U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General.
This decision follows the withdrawal of former nominee Matt Gaetz, who stepped aside after facing allegations of misconduct, including claims of involvement with an underage girl and drug use, which he denied.
Bondi, 59, served as Florida’s top law enforcement officer from 2011 to 2019 and was part of Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first administration.
She also played a key role in Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment trial, where he faced allegations of pressuring Ukraine to investigate then-rival Joe Biden.
More recently, Bondi has been active with the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank closely aligned with Trump’s agenda.
“Pam Bondi is certainly qualified for the position on paper,” noted David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Florida.
“She has spent her life prosecuting cases and has a resume, unlike the last nominee.”
Trump announced the nomination on social media, commending Bondi for her prosecutorial experience and her tough-on-crime record.
He promised her appointment would end the politicization of federal prosecutions, stating, “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — not anymore.”
Bondi’s ties to Trump date back to 2013 when the Trump Foundation donated $25,000 to a political action committee supporting her.
This raised questions about a potential conflict of interest, as her office was reviewing complaints about Trump University.
Both Trump University and the Trump Foundation were later shuttered following fraud investigations.
In her role at the America First Policy Institute, Bondi has continued to defend Trump, including drafting legal arguments supporting his case in the classified documents investigation.
Trump has been vocal about reshaping the Justice Department, vowing changes to immigration enforcement and other priorities when he takes office.