NEW YORK — On Thursday, former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi was appointed by Donald Trump to take on the role of U.S. attorney general. This decision came shortly after his initial choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from the position due to complications arising from a federal investigation into sex trafficking and ethics issues that jeopardized his potential confirmation.
At 59 years old, Bondi has been closely aligned with Trump for years and was previously considered for the attorney general position during his first term. Should she secure confirmation from the Republican-controlled Senate, she is expected to become a pivotal figure in Trump’s Cabinet, especially in light of concerns regarding his intentions to use the Justice Department for personal or political retribution.
Bondi has been a prominent figure in Trump’s political circle for an extended period. In March 2016, right before the Republican primary in Florida, she publicly endorsed Trump at a rally, even choosing him over Marco Rubio, a fellow Floridian and senator. Bondi garnered national recognition for her supportive appearances on Fox News and had a significant speaking role at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where she famously encouraged chants of “Lock her up” directed at Hillary Clinton, Trump’s rival at the time.
Before the change in administrations, Bondi was a member of Trump’s first transition team, and when former attorney general Jeff Sessions left in 2018, her name surfaced again as a possible successor. Trump expressed enthusiasm about potentially bringing her on board but ultimately chose William Barr for the position. Bondi has maintained a presence within Trump’s political landscape, even after his presidency ended. She chaired the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump administration officials, preparing for a possible second term for Trump.
Elected in 2010, Bondi made history as Florida’s first female attorney general. Although she had a solid prosecutorial background, serving over 18 years in the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, she was not a well-known political figure at the time of her election. Her rise in the political arena accelerated after receiving an endorsement from Sarah Palin, previously the governor of Alaska.
During her tenure, Bondi pushed for aggressive actions against President Obama’s health care policy and advocated for Arizona’s controversial immigration law, which incited a national discussion. She focused on pressing issues like human trafficking and was in office from 2011 until 2019.
In addition to her political career, Bondi also worked as a lobbyist for various clients, including U.S. corporations like General Motors and the commissioner of Major League Baseball. Her international lobbying efforts included working with a Kuwaiti firm and registering as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar, with an emphasis on anti-human trafficking initiatives as the country prepared for the 2022 World Cup.
Her visibility as a defender of Trump persisted through his first impeachment trial in 2020. Trump faced accusations of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political adversaries while withholding crucial military aid. Bondi joined the legal team to assist in crafting the administration’s messaging amid the impeachment proceedings, framing it as an illegitimate effort to undermine the president.
Bondi has openly criticized the various criminal cases aimed at Trump and has denounced special counsel Jack Smith, claiming that Smith and other prosecutors were engaged in efforts to enhance their careers by targeting Trump. Given the timeline of ongoing investigations, it is doubtful she would be confirmed before the culmination of these cases, which are expected to conclude before Trump’s term begins.
She further demonstrated her loyalty to Trump during his hush money trial in New York, which culminated in a conviction on multiple felony counts. Throughout his presidency, Trump sought to influence investigations into political opponents and appears likely to rely on Bondi to assist him in these endeavors.
Inheriting a Justice Department might shift significantly in focus under her leadership, particularly regarding civil rights and corporate enforcement, as well as the ongoing prosecutions related to the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol—a group of defendants Trump has promised to pardon.
Bondi’s own political past is not without controversy; in 2013, while serving as attorney general, she apologized publicly for attempting to postpone an execution due to a conflict with her reelection campaign fundraiser. Additionally, she was scrutinized for soliciting donations from Trump during an investigation into Trump University, which ultimately led to a settlement of $25 million for fraud claims against the institution.
Trump’s donation to Bondi’s campaign, drawn from his charitable foundation, violated rules prohibiting charities from engaging in political contributions. After inquiries, a Florida prosecutor determined that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support bribery allegations against either Trump or Bondi regarding the $25,000 donation.