US president-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as US Attorney General, rapidly moving to fill the vacancy left by his previous nominee, Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration amidst controversy.
Mr. Gaetz faced resistance from Senate Republicans and was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations related to an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl and drug use, which he has denied.
Ms. Bondi held the position of the chief law enforcement officer in Florida, the nation’s third most populous state, from 2011 to 2019 and participated on Mr. Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term.
Recently, Ms. Bondi played a key role in the legal branch of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank whose members have collaborated closely with Mr. Trump’s campaign to help formulate policies for his upcoming administration.
Matt Gaetz was a controversial choice by Donald Trump.
Ms. Bondi is expected to encounter less resistance from senators involved in the confirmation process compared to Mr. Gaetz.
Mr. Trump announced Ms. Bondi’s nomination on social media, commending her prosecutorial experience and stating she was tough on crime during her tenure as Florida’s first female attorney general.
Despite facing various criminal investigations from both federal and state prosecutors, including a felony conviction in New York, Mr. Trump expressed confidence that Ms. Bondi would restore integrity to federal prosecutions.
“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” remarked Mr. Trump.
“Pam will redirect the DOJ towards its primary mission of combating crime and Making America Safe Again,” he added.
A loyal supporter of Mr. Trump, Ms. Bondi is poised to implement his policy agenda effectively.
Donald Trump announced his pick of Pam Bondi on social media.
During his first term, Mr. Trump expressed frustration over what he deemed an obstructive Justice Department, criticizing former attorneys general Jeff Sessions for permitting the Russia investigation and Bill Barr for publicly countering his unfounded claims regarding election fraud in 2020.
The overarching goals for the Justice Department under Mr. Trump’s administration have been conveyed through his public statements, as well as remarks from Mark Paoletta, a conservative attorney heading policy planning for the department, and various interviews with former department officials.
Federal prosecutors are expected to be instructed to prioritize cases involving illegal immigration. Cities aspiring to benefit from the department’s more-than-$291 million justice assistance grant program may need to commit to collaborating with federal immigration enforcement.
The Civil Rights Division is likely to shift its focus from police accountability to advocating for religious freedoms and challenging government and private sector diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives legally.
