Just hours after former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general, President-elect Trump chose former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his nominee for attorney general.
“For too long, the partisan Justice Department has been used as a weapon against me and other Republicans. Not anymore,” Trump wrote in his announcement. “Pam will refocus the Department of Justice on its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again.
“I have known Pam for many years. She is smart and tough, and an AMERICA FIRST fighter, who will do a great job as Attorney General!”
Bondi chairs the Litigation Center and co-chairs the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute.
PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ANNOUNCES PAM BONDI AS HIS NEW PICK FOR U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
Here's what you should know about Trump's new pick for AG:
Bondi worked as a prosecutor before becoming Florida's first female attorney general.
Bondi, 59, is a Tampa native who earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida and her law degree from Stetson School of Law. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991.
She worked as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State's Attorney's Office for more than 18 years, prosecuting a variety of cases from domestic violence to murder.
After former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general, President-elect Trump chose former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his nominee for attorney general. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Bondi made history in 2010 as the state's first female attorney general. His campaign emphasized challenging the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and then focused on human trafficking issues once he took office. Notably, he also shut down pill mills and addressed the state's opioid crisis.
He held the position until 2019.
Bondi has worked closely with Trump, including on his defense team during his first impeachment trial.
Bondi worked as one of Trump's defense lawyers in 2020 after he was first accused of abusing his power and obstructing Congress.
“They have not charged the president with any crime because the president did nothing wrong,” Bondi said when the House sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate. “There was no crime. The transcript of that phone call speaks for itself.”
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Bondi also worked on Trump's Commission on Drug and Opioid Abuse during his first administration. In her role on the commission, Bondi collaborated with national leaders in drug prevention and treatment.
Bondi is a partner in a lobbying firm with ties to Trump and incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles.
Bondi is a partner at Ballard Partners, a Florida-based lobbying firm founded by Brian Ballard. Bondi splits his time between Florida and Washington, DC, chairing the firm's corporate regulatory practice.
Trump's new chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is also linked to the firm after becoming a partner there following Trump's 2016 victory. (Getty)
The D.C. office notably earned more than $70 million in lobbying fees during Trump's first term representing various corporate clients, according to federal disclosures.
Trump's new chief of staff, Susie Wiles, also works for the firm after becoming a partner there following Trump's 2016 victory.
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Bondi has been a staunch supporter of Trump during his legal troubles.
Bondi has been an outspoken critic of Trump's prosecutions, even appearing alongside Trump in New York City during his hush money trial.
Bondi has been vocal in his criticism of Trump's prosecutions, even appearing alongside the former president in New York City during his hush money trial. (Getty)
“They make it look like a first-degree murder case, and I've tried a lot of cases, Trace, and I've never seen anything like this,” Bondi told Fox News host Trace Gallagher in April, shortly after Trump received a conviction. gag order in his New York case.
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“They are trying to gag him not only of his First Amendment rights but also to defend himself,” Bondi said at the time.
Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
