Trump picks Pam Bondi for next attorney general

President-elect Trump has named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his next nominee to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

Bondi was a swift pick just hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew himself from consideration for the role. 

“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!“ Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

In his second attorney general pick, Trump has again selected a figure who supported him during his impeachment. 

Bondi was a senior adviser on Trump’s first impeachment defense team, a role for which she took a leave from Ballard Partners. She then rejoined the firm, which was founded by Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard, the former 2016 chair of Trump Victory.

She was also among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his New York hush money criminal trial that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts.

She previously served as attorney general of Florida from 2011 to 2019 under then-Gov. Rick Scott.

During that time, she was a chief challenger of numerous Obama-era policies, including the Affordable Care Act. She also defended the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. 

She is the chair of the Center for Litigation at the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank working with the Trump transition team on the administration’s agenda. She is still a partner at Ballard Partners, the lobbying firm at which Trump’s incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles worked.

Bondi was a senior adviser on Trump’s first impeachment defense team, a role for which she took a leave from Ballard Partners. She then rejoined the firm, which was founded by Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard, the former 2016 chair of Trump Victory.

She steps in for Gaetz, who was named Trump’s pick for attorney general just a week ago and immediately became the president-elect’s most controversial Cabinet choice.

Gaetz was previously investigated by the Justice Department as part of a broader sex trafficking probe, including allegations involving an underage woman. The department ultimately decided not to pursue charges, and Gaetz has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

While he cited that his nomination was becoming a distraction to the Trump transition team, his withdrawal suggests he had realized he was unlikely to win the votes necessary to be confirmed in the Senate after meeting with members of the upper chamber this week.

News of Bondi’s nomination garnered a positive reaction from numerous Senate GOP voices, a shift from the stunned reaction following the Gaetz nomination. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is set to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress predicted a swift confirmation.

“Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick,” he wrote on X.

“She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly.”

“Congrats to my friend @PamBondi. She’ll be an incredible Attorney General. Great choice @realDonaldTrump!” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), himself at one point reported to be in consideration for the role, wrote on X.

Bondi could prove to be a more palatable choice for many in the Senate as they face a string of other controversial nominees. 

That includes Pete Hegseth, whose nomination to lead the Department of Defense has been clouded by a sexual assault allegation, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard who has been nominated for Director of National Intelligence but has pushed Russian narratives and shared misinformation. 

Bondi, however, is not without controversy.

Bondi initially backed Trump’s claims there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, falsely claiming Trump had won Pennsylvania and insisting they had “evidence of cheating.”

She was also accused of improperly accepting a $25,000 donation from Trump in 2013 when she was weighing multiple fraud accusations against Trump University. She ultimately decided not to join a suit against the school brought by the New York attorney general.

In 2013, she publicly apologized for asking that the execution of a man convicted of murder be delayed because it conflicted with a campaign fundraiser. She said she was wrong and sorry for requesting that Scott push back the execution by three weeks.

The Associated Press contributed.

Updated 8:47 p.m. EST