In a swift political pivot on November 21, 2024, Donald Trump announced Pam Bondi, Florida’s former attorney general, as his pick for U.S. Attorney General. The nomination came hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration amid Senate Republican opposition over sexual misconduct allegations.
Trump selected Bondi from his Mar-a-Lago club, where he evaluated candidates on screens, assessing their loyalty and television presence. According to sources familiar with the matter, Bondi had not auditioned for the role, but her loyalist credentials and willingness to defend Trump on television made her an attractive pick.
“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals.”
Gaetz’s withdrawal came after a series of meetings on Wednesday with Republican senators. Trump called Gaetz on Thursday morning and told him it was clear he did not have the votes. According to people familiar with the matter, Gaetz told associates he faced the reality that at least three senators – Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski – and senator-elect John Curtis would vote against him and block his confirmation.
Bondi served as Florida’s first female Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, where she worked on issues including drug trafficking and the opioid crisis. Her alliance with Trump began during the 2016 campaign when she became an outspoken defender of his candidacy. She helped with Trump’s legal defence during his first impeachment trial, supported claims about the 2020 election, and continued working as a surrogate through the 2024 campaign.
As Florida attorney general, Bondi personally solicited a 2013 political contribution from Trump while her office was weighing whether to join New York in suing over fraud allegations involving Trump University. Trump’s family foundation provided a $25,000 check to a political committee supporting Bondi, violating legal prohibitions against charities supporting partisan political activities. After receiving the contribution, Bondi’s office decided against joining the fraud lawsuit. Trump paid a $2,500 fine to the IRS over the illegal political donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which he was later forced to dissolve.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bondi would become one of the most closely watched members of Trump’s Cabinet, given his stated intentions regarding perceived adversaries and Democrats’ concerns about Justice Department independence.
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Before her nomination, Bondi served as chairwoman of America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork for a potential second term. She also worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners, representing clients including General Motors, Major League Baseball’s commissioner, and the government of Qatar on anti-human trafficking efforts.
Should Bondi secure Senate confirmation, she would inherit a Justice Department expected to shift direction on civil rights, corporate enforcement, and the prosecutions of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot – defendants whom Trump has pledged to pardon.
The selection process for significant positions has involved Trump evaluating candidates based on perceived loyalty and television presence. This nomination affects several vital areas:
- Justice Department independence
- Ongoing federal cases
- Civil rights enforcement
- Election oversight
- Administrative Priorities
Senate confirmation hearings will examine Bondi’s involvement in Trump’s first impeachment defence and her position on current Justice Department operations.
