Photo: Pam Bondi
President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday, Nov. 21, that he will nominate former Florida attorney general and longtime supporter Pam Bondi to be the nation's attorney general, replacing previous nominee Matt Gaetz, who withdrew.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old underage girl and used illegal drugs. He denies any wrongdoing, Reuters reports.
Pam Bondi, 59, served as attorney general of the third-most populous state from 2011 to 2019 and served on Trump's Commission to Combat Opioid and Drug Addiction during his first term.
Bondi also served on Trump's legal team during his first impeachment, when he was accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate his rival, now-President Joe Biden, for corruption by withholding military aid. Trump was later acquitted by the Senate.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Most recently, Bondi led the legal division of the America First Policy Institute, a right-leaning think tank that worked closely with the Trump campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration.
Bondi's resume contrasts with Gaetz, who lacks traditional prosecutorial experience and would likely face resistance from Democrats and some Republicans in the Senate.
“She's certainly qualified for this job,” said David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Florida who is now an attorney at Jones Walker. “She's spent her life prosecuting criminal cases. She has a resume, unlike the previous nominee.”.
Trump announced his choice on social media, praising Bondi's experience as a prosecutor and noting her tough-on-crime record as the first woman to serve as Florida's attorney general.
Trump said Bondi would end the politicization of federal prosecutions.
“For too long, the Justice Department has been used for partisan gain against me and other Republicans — and that's over,” Trump said. “Pam will focus the Justice Department on its true purpose — fighting crime and keeping America safe.”.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga