After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the position of Attorney General, President-elect Donald Trump swiftly announced that he had chosen former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role. The announcement came Thursday evening via a social media post from Trump, following Gaetz’s exit earlier that day.
Trump, in his post on Truth Social, expressed his frustration with the partisan nature of the Department of Justice, claiming that it had been weaponized against him and other Republicans. He praised Bondi, stating, “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again.”
Pam Bondi poised to refocus DOJ following her nomination by President-elect Trump
Bondi had been under consideration for the role even before Gaetz was selected, with sources revealing that Trump had long favored her as a top lawyer. The nomination process for Gaetz faltered due to mounting pressure for the release of an ethics report that investigated him over sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies.
With Gaetz withdrawing after Trump informed him of his lack of Senate support, Bondi’s name emerged quickly as a potential replacement. By Thursday afternoon, reports indicated that Trump was leaning toward selecting Bondi, a lawyer with deep connections to key members of his team, such as incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles and legal counsel Boris Epshteyn. Trump met with Bondi at Mar-a-Lago before officially offering her the position.
Despite the need for Senate approval, allies of Trump expressed relief at the prospect of Bondi’s nomination, believing her experience as Florida’s Attorney General and her connections on Capitol Hill would make her confirmation process smoother than Gaetz’s.
Bondi had been previously considered for a role in Trump’s administration in 2018, but concerns over a controversial donation from Trump’s foundation to Bondi’s campaign committee had complicated her potential confirmation. Allegations that she had avoided investigating Trump University fraud after receiving the donation were dismissed by a Florida ethics panel.
Bondi has remained in Trump’s circle, working as a legal advisor during his first impeachment trial and serving as chair of the Center for Litigation at the America First Policy Institute, which opposes the perceived “weaponization” of the Justice Department.
Her legal career includes over a decade of practice in Florida, both as a prosecutor and as Attorney General. She became well-known for her media-savvy approach and her involvement in high-profile cases, such as her attempt to overturn Obamacare and her defense of Florida’s ban on gay marriage, which she later explained as a defense of the state constitution rather than an anti-LGBTQ stance.
After leaving office, Bondi joined Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with ties to Trump, where she represented Qatar from 2019 to 2020. More recently, she was involved in an amicus brief in support of Trump’s claims against special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment in the classified documents case.
Bondi’s legal history has not been without controversy, including a custody dispute over a dog that was allegedly stolen after Hurricane Katrina, which was ultimately settled out of court.
