NEW YORK — Pam Bondi, who previously served as Florida’s attorney general, has been appointed by Donald Trump as the new U.S. attorney general. This decision came just a few hours after Trump’s first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration due to a federal investigation related to sex trafficking and ethical issues that raised doubts about his ability to be confirmed.
At 59, Bondi has been a long-time ally of Trump, often mentioned as a potential candidate for the nation’s top legal role during his first term. Trump announced her nomination via social media on Thursday.
If confirmed by the Republican-majority Senate, Bondi will likely face intense scrutiny as a member of Trump’s Cabinet. Many Democrats are concerned that Trump might try to use the Justice Department for personal vendettas against those he perceives as adversaries.
Here are some essential details about Bondi:
A Longtime Supporter of Trump
Bondi has been an unwavering supporter of Trump since the early days of his campaign. In March 2016, she publicly endorsed him at a rally shortly before the Florida Republican primary, opting for Trump over fellow Floridian Marco Rubio.
Her defense of Trump on Fox News garnered her national attention, and she took a prominent role at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where the crowd chanted “Lock her up” in reference to Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival. Bondi enthusiastically supported the chant, stating, “‘Lock her up,’ I love that.”
As Trump transitioned into the presidency, Bondi joined his initial transition team. When Jeff Sessions was dismissed as attorney general in 2018, her name was floated as a possible successor, although Trump ultimately selected William Barr.
Even after Trump left office, Bondi remained connected to his inner circle, chairing the America First Policy Institute, a think tank created by former Trump aides to prepare for a potential second term.
Historic Appointment as Florida’s First Female Attorney General
Bondi made history in 2010 when she became Florida’s first female attorney general. Despite having over 18 years of experience as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, she was relatively unknown in political circles when she took on this high-profile role.
Her campaign gained traction after being endorsed by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin during the primary. Bondi ran on a platform that included strong opposition to then-President Barack Obama’s healthcare law and supported the controversial “show me your papers” immigration law from Arizona.
While serving as attorney general from 2011 to 2019, she made human trafficking a priority, advocating for stricter state laws to combat traffickers.
Lobbyist for Various Clients
Bondi worked as a lobbyist at Ballard Partners, a prominent Florida firm where Trump’s campaign chief and incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was a partner. Her U.S. clients included General Motors, the Major League Baseball commissioner, and a Christian organization focused on anti-human trafficking.
She also lobbied for a Kuwaiti firm and registered as a foreign agent for Qatar, emphasizing anti-human trafficking initiatives in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup. Additionally, Bondi represented KGL Investment Company, lobbying various U.S. government entities on issues related to immigration, human rights, and economic sanctions.
A Legal Advocate During Trump’s First Impeachment
In 2020, Bondi left her lobbying role to join Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial. He faced accusations of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals while withholding critical military aid.
Trump sought to have Ukraine’s president publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, who had ties to a Ukrainian gas company, all while nearly $400 million in military aid was in limbo. Bondi’s role was to enhance the White House’s messaging strategy and bolster its defense as Trump and his allies attempted to dismiss the impeachment proceedings as politically motivated.
Criticism of Trump’s Legal Issues
Bondi has publicly criticized the criminal cases against Trump, asserting that prosecutor Jack Smith and others involved are “horrible” individuals trying to gain fame by “weaponizing our legal system.”
It seems unlikely that Bondi will be confirmed in time to intersect with Smith, who has filed two federal indictments against Trump expected to conclude before the new president takes office. Special counsels usually release reports on their findings, but the timing of those releases remains uncertain.
Bondi also joined a group of Republicans in supporting Trump during his hush money criminal trial, which wrapped up in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts.
Throughout his presidency, Trump often pursued investigations into opponents like Hillary Clinton, attempting to leverage the Justice Department for his interests, including efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Bondi appears ready to support such aims.
If confirmed, she would lead a Justice Department likely to see substantial changes in areas such as civil rights, corporate enforcement, and the prosecution of numerous individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection—many of whom Trump has promised to pardon.
Controversies Surrounding Her Tenure
In 2013, while serving as attorney general, Bondi issued a public apology for attempting to delay the execution of a convicted murderer to avoid a scheduling conflict with a fundraising event for her reelection campaign.
Typically, the attorney general is available during execution dates to address any last-minute legal issues. Bondi later acknowledged her mistake and expressed regret for asking then-Governor Rick Scott to postpone the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks.
In 2013, Bondi personally solicited a political donation from Trump while her office was deliberating whether to join New York in a lawsuit against Trump University over fraud allegations. Trump contributed $25,000 to a political committee supporting Bondi, which violated legal restrictions against charities engaging in political activities. After receiving the donation, Bondi’s office decided not to pursue legal action against Trump due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Both Bondi and Trump have denied any wrongdoing.
Just two days before his inauguration in January 2017, Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle three lawsuits claiming Trump University defrauded its students. Additionally, he was fined $2,500 by the IRS for the illegal political contribution to support Bondi, stemming from an investigation that led to the dissolution of the Trump Foundation.
A prosecutor assigned by then-Governor Scott ultimately concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue bribery charges against either Trump or Bondi regarding the $25,000 donation.
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Long reported from Washington. Michael Biesecker from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
