Trump Picks Pam Bondi for Attorney General Amid $25K Trump University Scandal and Justice Department Independence Concerns

Trump's sudden pivot to nominate former Florida AG Pam Bondi as US Attorney General came hours after Matt Gaetz's withdrawal amid Senate Republican opposition over sexual misconduct allegations.

[{"selector":"#anim-1cd98608-5add-4b5e-8ac1-d54f052b0274","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60d9b8e2-0c8a-4c3a-9d54-d65b1723f274","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61c6a647-564d-42bf-8364-40469dcd2b45","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ec2f802-1015-4f9b-beb0-2a6bb4006d52","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bd000fc-110b-4bce-978d-df1693e551f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 330.15887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

Trump's sudden pivot to nominate former Florida AG Pam Bondi as US Attorney General came hours after Matt Gaetz's withdrawal amid Senate Republican opposition over sexual misconduct allegations.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b2cd095-04d4-4510-a701-b3bad2cb739a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5edec39-0110-420d-ab8d-3dcb2b605c3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -153.88567%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bef19a3-3a56-4ae8-b97e-f20fb653405b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7702322-2365-4bb0-934e-71c79b61c557","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42569408-b9f7-4ddd-b1d1-5061953d8ee4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59e12b2c-8402-4434-823c-517c4275c7c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e26eb1e3-074b-4b59-97c6-e21a99e029bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-793e3b4c-0380-46ef-be5c-7d152d92e9c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook) Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

Republican Senators McConnell, Collins, Murkowski, and senator-elect Curtis signaled their opposition to Gaetz, forcing Trump to make an early morning call announcing the nomination's end.

[{"selector":"#anim-11b5ce21-7438-4276-a6cf-f62b4a5af5df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec8d8210-30e0-468e-abe9-98897ca3aedb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d00ec53d-5d95-4100-8979-b20f209cd45f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98e60b7f-cd7a-4c85-98a3-f4fa92391a49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75e62c91-b37a-4afb-8e01-c5d1d2af2122","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 330.15887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Gage Skidmore ( CC BY-SA 2.0)

How would Bondi's potential confirmation affect hundreds of pending January 6 riot cases, given Trump's pledge to pardon defendants?

[{"selector":"#anim-4a164a8e-6d1c-4db8-8a58-b5ddd166cfa4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c9d52f8-207c-458a-a3ae-126dd0145999","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -174.57776%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cf20c54-d052-443f-bf50-7d34900bb4ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e2da45c-957b-4017-ad81-b466c2b7b9ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92fe19f0-481c-4301-b243-54b7b31203d2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb9c086f-9350-4265-8680-b53ba5fd09b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3185ef77-3794-4291-b236-1fb6432747cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-deb0158b-91db-4cd9-b3f8-6283ddefc28b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook) Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

Bondi's journey from Florida's first female Attorney General to Trump's impeachment defense team showcases her deep ties to the former president's inner circle.

[{"selector":"#anim-51119e88-9f9c-4cb2-be2a-ea740c67bc82","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c7f0e93-e579-4366-9add-729c0462569a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-245a811a-8c0c-46d8-acc4-9bf1022fe01e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4e01cd0-bcbd-4e0f-8523-3c4c348c2316","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5e45497-30ee-4c01-8289-61268e3b2901","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 330.15887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

Mar-a-Lago's screening process revealed Trump's emphasis on television presence and loyalty while evaluating potential Cabinet members.

[{"selector":"#anim-9e1fb021-2a2d-4cdc-b7ce-5eaa0c0ea9f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f82bfd9-a4a7-4545-aa24-6a44fea42589","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -174.57776%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2777fb59-2f7b-4181-abb3-29a812c28dd5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c150a4e4-5f30-4e41-ba0c-34a66d3040d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-916166e2-c07a-4afd-8593-a9aaf6252db6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cd18332-615b-4540-9c17-32d98b592c6d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-824c500d-79b7-40b3-89ec-80381ea9a820","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f97ff5fa-6da0-41c3-8e15-c2b0bbfe1400","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo Source: Gage Skidmore ( CC BY-SA 3.0)

Bondi's chairmanship of America First Policy Institute and lobbying work for Qatar raise questions about potential conflicts in Justice Department leadership.

[{"selector":"#anim-d5ea2ecd-6c67-468c-81db-260526e5601b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-526167b5-fce8-49c3-b834-aeac2151f6e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf5f0cbe-884e-4700-9682-8aff9224f3b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab84edcd-e236-4e7a-b48c-2b77e617c678","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c093db19-1ab4-4fe9-9413-56e541a4d866","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 330.15887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

Senate confirmation hearings loom large as Democrats prepare to scrutinize Bondi's role in Trump's first impeachment defense and her stance on DOJ independence.

[{"selector":"#anim-83f826f0-071b-41ed-80dd-b6208eb6f706","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff96f08b-94c9-406c-b7a1-6f7002265e39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -162.98798%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28f660c5-8cce-499e-a6db-cd926155ab4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27541039-77c7-4216-a2f0-a5408746954f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52dce799-a302-41c2-ac96-cead24a33b59","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c7cb1df-4e2c-4f4f-92ab-129bfc789f12","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91b5226c-5d3b-476d-bc6a-b4add449e579","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86c4af65-65b2-4247-be2a-9bafc6a382cd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook) Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

At stake: Justice Department's direction on civil rights enforcement, corporate oversight, and election integrity under potential Bondi leadership.

[{"selector":"#anim-c1ae992d-4dbf-4a5a-9ad3-a2911f004087","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3791f3de-797f-41f2-9677-fba2dfafcdd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32a05d93-8a60-4c44-bbac-62671cbec6fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d9eded4-a867-4abe-88e0-c123b11941c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa1cee78-70ba-4498-8a14-e368094082d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 330.15887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow Photo Source: Pam Bondi (Facebook)

[{"selector":"#anim-7190ac0e-7e60-4f75-ba18-74b5e3e9d9e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbfc541c-d220-44da-afc6-51dce2f6e8df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c74b2a7d-ab3f-4d32-a0cd-4aa5188eaa9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61872506-57c6-4e6c-a6cb-fb55b86b63a3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbbdc176-ea7a-4c07-a538-6bdd36c80fd1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bf938b6-63b2-45db-9ed9-ac9a176577ae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Trump Names Tulsi Gabbard as DNI, Sparking Senate and Ally Concerns Learn more

Trump Picks Pam Bondi for Attorney General Amid $25K Trump University Scandal and Justice Department Independence Concerns

Trump's sudden pivot to nominate former Florida AG Pam Bondi as US Attorney General came hours after Matt Gaetz's withdrawal amid Senate Republican opposition over sexual misconduct allegations.

Trump's sudden pivot to nominate former Florida AG Pam Bondi as US Attorney General came hours after Matt Gaetz's withdrawal amid Senate Republican opposition over sexual misconduct allegations.

Republican Senators McConnell, Collins, Murkowski, and senator-elect Curtis signaled their opposition to Gaetz, forcing Trump to make an early morning call announcing the nomination's end.

How would Bondi's potential confirmation affect hundreds of pending January 6 riot cases, given Trump's pledge to pardon defendants?

Bondi's journey from Florida's first female Attorney General to Trump's impeachment defense team showcases her deep ties to the former president's inner circle.

Mar-a-Lago's screening process revealed Trump's emphasis on television presence and loyalty while evaluating potential Cabinet members.

Bondi's chairmanship of America First Policy Institute and lobbying work for Qatar raise questions about potential conflicts in Justice Department leadership.

Senate confirmation hearings loom large as Democrats prepare to scrutinize Bondi's role in Trump's first impeachment defense and her stance on DOJ independence.

At stake: Justice Department's direction on civil rights enforcement, corporate oversight, and election integrity under potential Bondi leadership.

Next Story