President-elect Donald Trump introduced on Nov. 21 that he had chosen Pam Bondi, a longtime supporter of his and Florida’s former legal professional normal, to steer the U.S. Justice Division throughout his second time period.
Information of her nomination got here shortly after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his identify from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct and considerations about garnering sufficient assist amongst senators for his affirmation.
Bondi is anticipated to face a smoother course of within the Senate. If confirmed, she would function the nation’s third feminine legal professional normal.
Listed here are some issues to learn about Bondi and what to anticipate throughout her affirmation listening to.
Florida’s First Feminine Legal professional Common
Bondi, 59, has a long time of expertise in regulation enforcement and, in 2011, turned the Sunshine State’s first feminine legal professional normal.
Trump praised Bondi for her work on public security and drug trafficking when he introduced the nomination.
“Pam was a prosecutor for practically 20 years, the place she was very robust on Violent Criminals, and made the streets secure for Florida Households,” Trump wrote on Fact Social. “Then, as Florida’s first feminine Legal professional Common, she labored to cease the trafficking of lethal medicine, and cut back the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many households throughout our Nation.”
In line with her bio, she is a fourth-generation Floridian. Her father was the mayor of a city in Hillsborough County, a county the place she additionally served as a prosecutor for years. Bondi acquired a Bachelor of Arts in prison justice from the College of Florida and graduated from Stetson College School of Regulation.
Throughout Bondi’s time as legal professional normal, she additionally defended the state’s try and implement a conventional definition of marriage.
Vocal Trump Supporter
Bondi has been on the forefront of supporting Trump, who has vowed to finish what he referred to as the weaponization of the justice system.
“For too lengthy, the partisan Division of Justice has been weaponized towards me and different Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump stated on Fact Social on Nov. 21. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its supposed function of combating Crime, and Making America Secure Once more.”
In addition to campaigning for Trump, Bondi publicly defended him throughout Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s prosecution in New York. She additionally suggested Trump throughout his impeachment protection and served as an adviser for his 2020 presidential marketing campaign. Throughout Trump’s first time period, she additionally labored on his Opioid and Drug Abuse Fee.
Bondi additionally joined Matthew Whitaker, Trump’s former appearing legal professional normal and appointment for ambassador to NATO, in arguing that particular counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unlawful. Each filed an amicus transient opposing Smith’s attraction within the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals for the eleventh Circuit, which was reviewing Florida Choose Aileen Cannon’s dismissal of his categorized paperwork case towards Trump.
Bondi Works for Trump-Aligned Group
Bondi additionally leads authorized efforts on the America First Coverage Institute, the place she serves as chair for the Middle for Litigation and co-chair of the Middle for Regulation and Justice. The institute advocates for “liberty, free enterprise, nationwide greatness, American army superiority, foreign-policy engagement within the American curiosity, and the primacy of American employees, households, and communities,” in keeping with its web site.
In 2023, she labored on a lawsuit alleging {that a} Colorado faculty district violated dad and mom’ rights by means of its “gender assist plans” for college students, in addition to teachings about intercourse and gender.
The lawsuit claimed, amongst different issues, {that a} faculty “Gender and Sexualities Alliance” membership did not disclose info to folks and inspired college students to deal with their discussions as secret. A federal choose dominated in favor of the varsity district. The U.S. Courtroom of Appeals for the tenth Circuit set oral argument within the case for January.
Senate Assist
Bondi has already acquired assist from main Republicans like Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who labored together with her as Florida’s former governor, and Senate Judiciary Committee rating member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), one other member of the Judiciary Committee, stated on social media platform X that Bondi could be a “fabulous AG.”
Democrats may elevate considerations about her work in Trump’s authorized circumstances and her stance on the fraud allegations within the 2020 elections.
Lobbying Work
Since leaving the legal professional normal’s workplace in 2019, she’s labored in varied roles, together with as a lobbyist at Ballard Companions, which is led by Brian Ballard, who raised funds for Trump’s 2020 reelection marketing campaign. It’s the identical lobbying agency the place Susan Wiles, who Trump introduced for White Home chief of Employees, labored.
In line with her bio, Bondi chairs the agency’s Company Regulatory Compliance follow, which focuses on “serving Fortune 500 firms to implement greatest practices that proactively tackle public coverage challenges corresponding to human trafficking, opioid abuse and private information privateness.”
Following information of her nomination, some drew consideration to Bondi’s work as a lobbyist for the federal government of Qatar. In line with Open Secrets and techniques, her purchasers included actual property funding firm Alden Torch Monetary, the Florida Sheriffs Affiliation, and funding firm Pulte Capital Companions.
