Donald Trump has appointed Pam Bondi, the previous attorney general of Florida, as the next attorney general after his nominee Matt Gaetz retracted. Trump announced this decision on Thursday. The newly-elected US president cited that “she is loyal and has experience in law.” Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal comes amidst bipartisan rebukes and allegations of misconduct surrounding the controversial candidate and former Congressman.
Bondi was a proven stalwart of Trump as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 through 2019. She was one of Trump’s earliest supporters in the 2016 presidential campaign and became part of the President’s panel for impeachment during his first term. She is known to have highlighted issues such as human trafficking, marking quite a contrast to the nominee Gaetz. Gaetz couldn’t shake off the controversies of his poor traditional qualifications and ongoing legal uproar against him.
Donald Trump praises Pam Bondi, US new Attorney General to be
Trump applauded Bondi’s ability to “restore order” within the Department of Justice. He claimed it has been politicized in recent years. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again,” Trump stated. Controversy surrounds Bondi’s nomination, however. Critics have noted a 2013 Trump Foundation contribution to a political action committee that supports her, which was made when she decided against filing fraud claims against Trump University. Both sides denied any wrongdoing.
Bondi’s appointment will require Senate confirmation, and watchdog groups have already called for a thorough investigation into her past actions. Meanwhile, she continues to align herself closely with Trump’s political agenda, including defending him against recent criminal charges and supporting his claims of election fraud in 2020.
If confirmed, Bondi will be the first to oversee critical federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals during his second term, which is a pivotal moment in Trump’s efforts to reshape the Justice Department. Observers are bracing for contentious Senate hearings as her nomination moves forward.
Also, see: US judge forces Google to sell Chrome