Who is Pam Bondi, Trump’s new pick to lead the US justice department?

Pam Bondi, the latest choice by Donald Trump to head the US Department of Justice, was the first woman to hold the position of attorney general in Florida. In recent times, she has gained recognition primarily for her strong support of the former president.

On Thursday, Trump revealed Bondi as his choice for the position of US attorney general. This came just hours after Matt Gaetz, Trump's initial selection, withdrew from the running due to increasing resistance from fellow Republicans following allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

"I am excited to share that Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida, will be our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam has nearly two decades of experience as a prosecutor, during which she took a strong stance against violent criminals," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.

Bondi has held the position of chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded by former staff members from the Trump administration. She also played a role on Trump's initial transition team.

The 59-year-old has been a close supporter of Trump for many years. During his first term, she was viewed as a possible contender for the top position in national law enforcement.

According to reports from the Guardian on Thursday, Trump received advice from his advisers suggesting that she would be a favorable option compared to Gaetz. This is because she has support from various figures within the Republican Party as well as connections within Trump’s inner circle.

Prior to entering the realm of national politics, Bondi dedicated over 18 years to her role as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office. When she was elected as Florida’s first female attorney general in 2010, she was relatively unknown in the political arena and benefited from the support of former vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin.

She held the position of Florida's leading prosecutor from 2011 to 2019 and subsequently worked as a lobbyist for both domestic and international clients.

During Bondi’s time as attorney general, the country experienced two significant and tragic shootings. In 2016, following a horrific extremist assault on an LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Orlando that left 47 individuals dead and more than 50 injured, CNN’s Anderson Cooper confronted Bondi live on air regarding her support for a same-sex marriage ban in the state.

Two years later, a former student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, resulting in the tragic deaths of 17 students and staff members. In response, Bondi advocated for the death penalty for the shooter and backed then-Governor Rick Scott in enacting Florida's initial gun-control law, which increased the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 18 to 21. This legislation also allocated millions of dollars for enhanced mental health services in schools, the construction of a new facility to replace Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and increased security on campus.

Bondi has had connections with Trump for several years. During her time as the attorney general of Florida, she chose to support Trump in the 2016 election instead of her fellow Floridian candidate, Marco Rubio.

In 2016, the Associated Press disclosed that Bondi had directly requested a campaign donation from Trump three years prior. The money was provided through a foundation belonging to Trump’s family, which breaks rules regarding the involvement of charities in political activities. The $25,000 contribution coincided with Bondi's office contemplating whether to collaborate with New York on an investigation into Trump's universities, which faced accusations of deceptive practices and misleading claims regarding student training and job opportunities. Once the donation was received, Bondi opted out of the investigation, as reported by the Associated Press.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Bondi did attempt to return the check, but Trump refused it and sent it back.

Bondi served as one of Trump's lawyers during his impeachment in 2019, where he faced accusations—though he was not found guilty—of attempting to condition military aid to Ukraine on the country’s agreement to investigate Joe Biden. Later, during Trump’s trial over hush-money payments, Bondi was among the few Republicans who attended court to back him.

Bondi has strongly condemned the criminal charges brought against Trump, as well as Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing two federal cases against him. She labeled Smith and the other prosecutors involved as "terrible" individuals who are misusing the legal system for their own purposes.

If she receives confirmation, Bondi will become part of the Justice Department alongside several other members from Trump’s legal team.

This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.