President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head the U.S. Department of Justice for a second term. It was a quick decision, but one that came as little surprise to many in Trump's inner circle.
That's because Ms. Bondi, 59, has emerged as a close ally of the president-elect in recent years, including defending him in impeachment proceedings and, more recently, in the run-up to Election Day, of which she is co-chair. This is because he is emerging as a close aide to the next president. He is the director of the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a think tank founded by former President Trump staffers.
Like former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his name as a candidate for attorney general Thursday afternoon, Mr. Bondi is a Floridian, many of whom are staunch supporters of the president-elect and who want to eradicate what he has. I believe that I am dedicated to doing so. This has been described as the “weaponization” of the Justice Department.
But other than that, the two seem to have little in common.
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Pam Bondi speaks at a press conference during a break in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial outside Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty)
A native of Florida, Bondi spent many years as a prosecutor in the Sunshine State and spent 18 years as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State's Attorney's Office before being elected as Florida's first female attorney general in 2010.
More recently, Mr. Bondi has used his position with AFPI to voice concerns about election security. This is a key issue that Republicans have sought to highlight in a spate of redistricting lawsuits, primarily in key battleground states.
If confirmed, Mr. Bondi would likely use his post to implement many of Mr. Trump's tough-on-crime policy proposals, including crackdowns on cartels, fentanyl, human trafficking and more.
President Trump's Agenda 47 website death penalty These include eliminating human traffickers, ending welfare for immigrants living in the United States illegally, and cracking down on violent crime in big cities that President Trump has described as “cesspools of blood and crime.”
But hours after her nomination, it remained unclear how or if she intended to implement some of those proposals.
A member of Trump's transition team pointed to Fox News Digital a widely shared clip of CNN legal analyst Elie Honig. He emphasized that Bondi is qualified for the role.
“Pam Bondi is, without a doubt, qualified to be attorney general,” Honig said in the video, adding that her experience “is on par with most U.S. attorneys general we've seen over the last 50 years.” , it's more than that.'' So. “
“Even CNN is flattered by her qualifications,” an acquaintance told Fox News Digital on condition of anonymity.
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Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi displays a court order granting the Trump campaign more access to vote counting operations at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on November 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Those close to Ms. Bondi have praised her long record as a prosecutor and her unwavering loyalty to the president-elect, with whom she has worked since 2020, starting with representing her in Mr. Bondi's first impeachment trial. He currently holds that position at AFPI. .
Jeanno Caldwell, director of the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety, an organization aimed at combating violent crime, said Bondi was “all about integrity and the proper application of justice and fairness.” Bondi serves on the group's advisory board.
“I think she can root out a lot of bad apples,” Caldwell added. “And return the Department of Justice to its traditional focus on law and order and fighting crime.”
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Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives at the Fiserv Forum during the second day of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
As well as other potential candidates for the role. Bondi was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to investigate both alleged efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results and Trump's preservation activities. He did not hesitate to go after Trump's critics, including the special counsel. Allegedly classified documents in a home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
smith His investigation appears to be over.—It was a welcome relief for the president-elect, who had vowed to remove him “within two seconds” after taking office as a candidate.
Still, in a recent radio interview, Bondi described Smith and his prosecution team as “terrible” people who are trying to make a name for themselves by “weaponizing our legal system in their pursuit of Donald Trump.” I sympathize with Trump's criticism.
“Attorney general nominee Mr. Bondi is looking forward to the confirmation process and is looking forward to answering questions from senators,” said Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for President Trump's transition team.
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He added that Bondi's life “has been dedicated to keeping the American people safe.” “She looks forward to continuing her work at the Department of Justice.”
