Anderson Cooper Calls Out Florida Attorney General's Anti-LGBT Record

In today's edition of CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin, Anderson Cooper chatted with Florida's Attorney General Pam Bondi about her history of supporting anti-LGBT state legislation.

In an out-of-studio segment filmed in front of the Florida hospital where Orlando victims are being treated, Cooper confronted a flustered Bondi about her fight against marriage equality in the past.

COOPER: I talked to a lot of gay and lesbian people here yesterday who are not fans of yours and who said that they thought you were being a hypocrite, that you for years have fought, you basically gone after gay people, said that in court that gay people simply by fighting for marriage equality were trying to do harm to the people of Florida. To induce "public harm," I believe was the term you used in court. Do you really think you're a champion of the gay community?

BONDI: Let me tell you. When I was sworn in as attorney general, I put my hand on the Bible and was sworn to uphold the constitution of the state of Florida. That's not a law. That was voted in to our state constitution by the voters of Florida. That's what I was defending. Had nothing to doI've never said I don't like gay people--that's ridiculous.

C: But do you worry about using language accusing gay people of trying to do harm to the people of Florida? Doesn't that send a message to some people who might have bad ideas in mind?

B: Anderson, I don't believe gay people could do harm to the state of Florida. We're human beings.

C: But you argued that in court.

Cooper continued to press Bondi, who, though she tried to appear an ally on camera, has been among the most visible supporters of a ban on gay marriage in Florida in the past.

Watch the full interview below: