NEW YORK — Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, has been selected by Donald Trump to be the U.S. attorney general, just hours after his initial pick, Matt Gaetz, stepped down amid a federal investigation into sex trafficking and ethical concerns that raised doubts about his confirmation.
At 59, Bondi has been a longtime supporter of Trump, with her name frequently mentioned during his first term as a potential candidate for the top legal position in the country. Trump made the announcement about Bondi’s nomination on social media on Thursday.
If the Republican-controlled Senate confirms her, Bondi will quickly become one of the most scrutinized members of Trump’s Cabinet. Concerns persist among Democrats that Trump may seek to manipulate the Justice Department for personal vendettas against perceived enemies.
Here are some key points to know about Bondi:
A Longtime Ally of Trump
Bondi has been an early and steadfast ally of Trump. In March 2016, she endorsed him at a rally just before the Florida Republican primary, choosing him over fellow Floridian Marco Rubio.
She gained national recognition through her appearances on Fox News, where she defended Trump and had a prominent speaking role at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where the crowd chanted “Lock her up” in reference to Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic opponent. Bondi responded enthusiastically, saying, “‘Lock her up,’ I love that.”
During Trump’s transition into the White House, she was part of his initial transition team. When Jeff Sessions was removed as attorney general in 2018, Bondi’s name was suggested as a possible replacement, although Trump eventually appointed William Barr.
Bondi maintained her connection to Trump’s circle even after he left office, serving as chair of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump staffers to prepare for a potential second term.
Historic Role as Florida’s First Female Attorney General
In 2010, Bondi made history by becoming Florida’s first female attorney general. Though she had spent over 18 years as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, she was relatively unknown in political circles when she assumed this high-profile position.
Her campaign gained momentum after receiving an endorsement from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin during the primary. Bondi ran on a platform that included robust challenges to then-President Barack Obama’s healthcare law and advocating for the adoption of Arizona’s controversial “show me your papers” immigration law.
As attorney general, she prioritized human trafficking issues, calling for stricter state laws against traffickers during her tenure from 2011 to 2019.
Lobbyist for Domestic and International Clients
Bondi worked as a lobbyist with 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 anti-human trafficking advocacy organization.
Additionally, she lobbied for a Kuwaiti firm and registered as a foreign agent for Qatar, focusing on anti-human trafficking initiatives leading up to the 2022 World Cup. Bondi also represented KGL Investment Company, lobbying various U.S. government entities on immigration, human rights, and economic sanctions.
A Defender During Trump’s First Impeachment
In 2020, Bondi stepped away from lobbying to join Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial. He faced accusations of abuse of power for allegedly pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political opponents while withholding crucial military aid, as well as obstruction of Congress.
Trump aimed to have Ukraine’s president publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, who was involved with a Ukrainian gas company, all while nearly $400 million in military aid was on hold. Bondi’s role was to enhance the White House’s messaging and defense strategy, as Trump and his allies sought to dismiss the impeachment as a political farce.
Criticism of Trump’s Legal Challenges
Bondi has been outspoken in her criticism of the criminal cases against Trump, labeling prosecutor Jack Smith and others involved as “horrible” individuals attempting to gain notoriety by “weaponizing our legal system.”
It is unlikely that Bondi will be confirmed in time to intersect with Smith, who has brought two federal indictments against Trump that are expected to conclude before the new president takes office. Special counsels typically release reports on their findings, but the timing of such releases remains uncertain.
Bondi also joined a group of Republicans to support Trump during his hush money criminal trial, which concluded in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts.
During his presidency, Trump often sought investigations into opponents like Hillary Clinton and attempted to leverage the Justice Department for his own interests, including efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Bondi seems poised to support such objectives.
If confirmed, she would lead a Justice Department likely to undergo significant changes in areas such as civil rights, corporate enforcement, and the prosecution of numerous individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot—many of whom Trump has pledged to pardon.
Political Controversies of Her Own
In 2013, while serving as attorney general, Bondi publicly apologized for attempting to delay the execution of a convicted killer because it coincided with a fundraising event for her reelection campaign.
Typically, the attorney general remains available during execution dates to handle any last-minute legal issues. Bondi later admitted her error and expressed regret for requesting then-Governor Rick Scott to postpone the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks.
In 2013, Bondi personally solicited a political contribution from Trump while her office was considering whether to join New York in a lawsuit against Trump University over fraud claims. Trump donated $25,000 to a political committee supporting Bondi from his charitable foundation, which violated legal restrictions against charities engaging in political activities. After receiving the donation, Bondi’s office chose not to pursue legal action against Trump, citing insufficient grounds. Both Bondi and Trump have denied any wrongdoing.
Just two days before his inauguration in January 2017, Trump agreed to pay $25 million to resolve 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 determined there was not enough evidence to pursue bribery charges against either Trump or Bondi regarding the $25,000 donation.
___
Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Michael Biesecker contributed to this report.
