Donald Trump administration threatens to prosecute Office Depot employee for refusing to print Charlie Kirk flyers

Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing criticism after making controversial comments about targeting businesses and individuals with what she calls “hate speech.” The nation’s top law enforcement officer appeared on a conservative podcast Monday afternoon, where she drew a line between free speech and hate speech. During the interview, Bondi made statements that have drawn pushback from both sides of the political spectrum.

The Florida Republican’s comments went beyond just discussing hate speech laws. Hours after the podcast interview, Bondi appeared on Fox News where she discussed a specific case involving an Office Depot employee in Michigan. The employee was fired for refusing to print flyers featuring Charlie Kirk for memorial vigils following his recent assassination.

According to MSNBC, during her appearance on Fox News’s Hannity show, Bondi made her position clear. “We can prosecute you for that,” she told host Sean Hannity when discussing the Office Depot case. She explained that businesses cannot discriminate and said she had already referred the case to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for potential prosecution.

Justice Department considers civil rights action

A senior Justice Department official later told The New York Times that Bondi is not planning a broad campaign against businesses that refuse service. Instead, her focus remains specifically on the Office Depot employee who declined to print the Kirk materials. The official clarified that this represents a targeted approach rather than sweeping enforcement action against private businesses. 

Bondi’s position represents a departure from typical conservative thinking on business rights. When a Colorado baker refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in 2018, conservative leaders defended the business owner’s right to refuse service based on personal beliefs. The Supreme Court’s conservative justices sided with the baker in that landmark case.

The attorney general’s stance has drawn criticism from fellow conservatives. National Review’s Charles C.W. Cooke highlighted what he called “Pam Bondi’s ridiculous 24 hours,” pointing to the contradiction between her current position and traditional conservative views on private business rights. Critics argue that Bondi is applying different standards depending on the political context of the discrimination.

Legal experts question whether the Office Depot case actually constitutes a federal civil rights violation. The employee’s refusal to print Kirk flyers appears to be based on personal objections rather than discrimination against a protected class. This distinction could prove important if the Justice Department moves forward with any enforcement action.

Bondi has faced scrutiny throughout her tenure as attorney general for various controversial positions and statements. The latest incident adds to ongoing questions about how she will use the broad powers that come with leading the Justice Department under the Trump administration.