President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his nominee for U.S. Attorney General, following Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal earlier in the day.
Bondi, who served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, gained national prominence as a defense lawyer during Trump’s first impeachment trial. Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, lauding Bondi’s tough stance on crime and commitment to public safety.
“She did such an incredible job [as Florida Attorney General] that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first term — we saved many lives!” Trump wrote. He praised her efforts to combat fentanyl overdoses and reduce drug trafficking, which he credited with helping families across the country.
In his post, Trump emphasized Bondi’s potential to transform the Department of Justice. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again. I have known Pam for many years — she is smart and tough and is an AMERICA FIRST fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!”
A Trump Loyalist
Bondi’s connection to Trump dates back to the 2016 Republican primaries, during which she supported his candidacy. After leaving public office, she served as a prominent Trump surrogate, defending him during media appearances and campaigns. She later chaired the Center for Litigation and co-chaired the Center for Law and Justice at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.
Bondi has publicly called for a strong, fearless attorney general to lead the DOJ. In a May 2023 interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, she emphasized the importance of rooting out dishonesty within federal agencies, including the FBI and DEA, while strengthening homeland security and drug enforcement efforts.
“It starts at the top with justice,” Bondi said. “You put in an attorney general who is not scared of anybody and will take out the people who are not honest.”
Gaetz’s Controversial Nomination
Bondi’s nomination comes after a brief but turbulent week for Trump’s original pick, Rep. Matt Gaetz, who stepped down from consideration earlier on Tuesday. Gaetz’s nomination faced resistance from Senate Republicans and was overshadowed by a House Ethics investigation into allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old. Gaetz has consistently denied the claims, and no charges were filed, but leaked documents and interviews from the inquiry cast doubt on his confirmation prospects.
In a statement announcing his withdrawal, Gaetz expressed frustration at the political distractions. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” he said. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle.”
Trump’s decision to pivot to Bondi signals his intent to move swiftly in assembling his administration’s leadership team. The president-elect framed Bondi’s appointment as part of his broader effort to “depoliticize” the Justice Department and focus its resources on combating crime.
Bondi’s nomination will now head to the Senate for confirmation, where her close ties to Trump and history as a polarizing political figure are likely to draw scrutiny. Despite this, her extensive legal background and longstanding loyalty to Trump may smooth her path to confirmation in the GOP-controlled Senate.
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