Trump names Pam Bondi as new AG pick after first choice Matt Gaetz withdraws
Join Our Daily Inside Washington Newsletter!
Subscribe For Our Free Inside Washington Email
Subscribe For Free Inside Washington Updates
I’d love to receive emails about promotions, events, and news from The Independent. Please take a look at our privacy policy.
Donald Trump has revealed that he plans to nominate Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida, for the position of US Attorney General. This decision comes after his initial choice, Matt Gaetz, made a surprising reversal and stepped back from the nomination.
"For far too long, the biased Department of Justice has been used against me and fellow Republicans. That’s going to change. Pam will shift the DOJ back to its original role of combating crime and ensuring safety in America," Trump stated on Thursday night. "I’ve known Pam for a long time—she's intelligent and strong, and she truly champions the AMERICA FIRST agenda. She will excel as Attorney General!"
Trump’s most recent nomination follows the announcement from former Florida congressman Gaetz that he would step back from consideration for the position. This decision came after receiving criticism from both major political parties. Gaetz has dealt with allegations regarding the trafficking of a minor, but he has consistently denied these claims and has not faced any criminal charges.
"Although there was a lot of support for me, it's obvious that my confirmation was unfairly distracting from the important tasks of the Trump/Vance Transition," Gaetz posted on X earlier Thursday. "We can't afford to get caught up in a pointless political dispute, so I will be stepping back from the consideration for the Attorney General position."
The President probably sees his selection for Attorney General and the Department of Justice as a way to seek "payback" and "revenge" against those he considers his political foes.
Bondi, 59, is the head of a legal division within the America First Policy Institute, a group aligned with Trump, which has prepared policy suggestions for the upcoming administration. She shares Trump's disdain for special counsel Jack Smith and his inquiries into the former president's efforts to undermine the 2020 election and his holding of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
She has also backed Trump's unfounded efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, making baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the states he did not win.
In his Thursday night post, the President-elect praised Bondi's background. "Pam served as a prosecutor for almost two decades, during which she took a strong stance against violent criminals and worked to ensure the safety of Florida families," he commented.
As Florida's first female Attorney General, she took strong action to combat the illegal trade of dangerous drugs and tackle the heartbreaking issue of Fentanyl-related overdoses, which have devastated countless families nationwide. Her outstanding efforts led me to invite her to join our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first term, where we were able to save many lives!
Moreover, Bondi acted as one of Trump's lawyers during his first impeachment, where she emphasized claims that Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in corrupt activities in Ukraine. This helped spark investigations led by Republicans into the president, which Trump’s new administration is anticipated to reignite.
In 2013, she chose not to participate with the New York attorney general in a class action lawsuit against Trump University. It was later revealed that the Donald Trump Foundation contributed $25,000 to Bondi’s re-election bid shortly after her spokesperson indicated they were investigating Trump University due to several complaints in Florida regarding the school.
Bondi stated that the contribution had no influence on her choice not to participate in the lawsuit against Trump University, which was charged with unlawful business activities. Ultimately, Trump reached a settlement in three different lawsuits for a total of $25 million.
She served as the main lawyer in an effort that eventually failed to eliminate the individual mandate aspect of the Affordable Care Act. Following that, she partnered with 19 other Republican state attorneys general to challenge the ACA's policy that prevents health insurance companies from denying coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions.
