Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, a seasoned prosecutor, as his choice for attorney general, following Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration just hours earlier.
Bondi, who has extensive experience in law enforcement, previously served as Florida’s attorney general. A staunch Trump ally, she was part of his legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial and also publicly supported him during his hush money trial in New York.
“Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was tough on violent criminals, making the streets safer for Florida families,” Trump said in a social media post announcing her nomination.
Bondi, who has been close to Trump since his 2016 campaign, recently referred to him as a “friend” at a rally. In 2019, she joined his White House team to focus on “proactive impeachment messaging” and served as his legal advisor and defense attorney during his first impeachment, in which he was acquitted.
She continued to support Trump in 2020, playing a role in promoting false claims about voter fraud and the election being stolen from him. Bondi also served on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission and currently leads the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank established by former Trump staffers.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bondi will assume the role of the nation’s top law enforcement officer, overseeing the Justice Department’s 115,000 employees and $45 billion budget. She will also play a crucial role in advancing Trump’s agenda to target his political opponents once he takes office.
“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump wrote on Thursday evening.
“Pam will refocus the DOJ [Department of Justice] to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”
Trump has for many years accused the justice department, and the FBI that it oversees, of political bias against him.
Trump’s other plans for the department include ending “weaponised government”, protecting US borders, dismantling criminal organisations and restoring Americans’ “badly-shattered faith and confidence” in the department.
Trump’s transition team will be hoping that Bondi’s nomination path will be less tumultuous than Gaetz’s.
Reacting to the announcement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham predicted that Bondi “will be confirmed quickly,” calling her selection a “grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick.”
The news of Bondi’s nomination came about six hours after Gaetz said he would not seek the high-profile cabinet post, following days of debate over whether to release a congressional report on sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Announcing his withdrawal, the 41-year-old said the controversy over his potential nomination “was unfairly becoming a distraction” to the work of the incoming Trump administration.
The report included the findings of a probe sparked by allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Gaetz has vehemently denied the claims but said that he hoped to avoid a “needlessly protracted Washington scuffle” by withdrawing.
Later on Thursday, Gaetz offered his congratulations to Bondi, calling her “a stellar selection by President Trump”.
“She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ,” he said.
It is unclear if Gaetz, who resigned his House seat soon after Trump tapped him for attorney general, will now try to retain his seat.
Since his resounding election win earlier this month, Trump has named several close allies to fill high-ranking positions in his administration.
