President-elect Donald Trump has announced Pam Bondi as his new nominee for Attorney General, following Representative Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration amid controversy.
Gaetz, who had been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl and drug use, denied the allegations but stepped down due to the scrutiny surrounding him.
Bondi, 59, served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and has long-standing ties to Trump. She was part of his Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term and later joined his defense team during his 2020 impeachment trial. More recently, she worked with the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank shaping policy for Trump’s incoming administration.
In announcing the nomination on social media, Trump described Bondi as a tough and experienced prosecutor. “She is certainly qualified for the position on paper,” said David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Florida who now works as a defense attorney. “She spent her life prosecuting cases. She has a resume, as compared to the last nominee.”
Trump, who has been critical of the Department of Justice, emphasized Bondi’s ability to depoliticize federal prosecutions. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans—Not anymore,” he said.
Bondi’s ties to Trump date back to before his presidency. In 2013, the Trump Foundation donated $25,000 to a political action committee supporting Bondi while her office was considering an investigation into Trump University. Critics saw this as a conflict of interest, but Bondi denied any link between the donation and her decision not to pursue legal action.
Both Trump University and the Trump Foundation were later shut down after fraud investigations in New York. Trump paid a $25 million settlement to resolve claims related to Trump University and was fined $2 million for misusing charitable funds.
Bondi’s nomination marks a shift in the Department of Justice under Trump’s leadership. Federal prosecutors are expected to prioritize immigration enforcement, with funding linked to cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Civil Rights Division may also shift focus from police accountability to defending religious freedoms and opposing diversity programs.
Bondi has been an active defender of Trump in his legal battles, including contributing to a legal brief supporting his position in the classified documents case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The case was dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon, and the Justice Department subsequently appealed.
Bondi’s confirmation process is likely to highlight her strong ties to Trump and her record as Florida’s attorney general. However, her extensive prosecutorial experience and high-profile defense of Trump could strengthen her credentials.
“She has a proven track record as a tough prosecutor,” Trump said. “Pam Bondi will restore fairness to the Department of Justice.”
Bondi’s nomination stands in contrast to Gaetz’s, whose lack of traditional legal qualifications and controversial past would have likely faced Senate resistance.
