WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday appointed Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as U.S. attorney general, just hours after his other choice. Matt Gaetzwithdrew his name from consideration.
Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power when he tried to condition U.S. military aid to Ukraine on that country that investigated the then-former vice president. Joe Biden.
Bondi was among a group of Republicans who came out to support Trump during his hush-money criminal trial in New York, which ended with a conviction on 34 felony counts in May. She was president of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded by former Trump administration officials.
“For too long, the partisan Justice Department has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – not anymore,” Trump said in a social media post. “Pam will refocus the DOJ on its intended purpose: fighting crime and making America safe again.”
Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had backups in mind for its controversial nominees should they fail to be confirmed. Bondi’s quick selection came about six hours after Gaetz withdrew.
Gaetz stepped aside amid ongoing fallout over a federal investigation into sex trafficking that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer.
That announcement capped a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election victory to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who was investigated by the Justice Department before he was tapped last week to lead it. The decision could increase scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegsethwho is facing allegations of sexual assault that he denies.
“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation unfairly became a distraction from the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition,” said Gaetz, a Florida Republican who met with senators a day earlier in an effort to rally their support to win. said in a statement.
“There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted scuffle in Washington, so I will withdraw my name from serving as attorney general. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he “looks forward to continuing the fight to save our country,” adding, “Maybe from another post.”
Trump said in a social media post: “I greatly appreciate Matt Gaetz’s recent efforts in gaining approval to become Attorney General. He did very well, but at the same time he did not want to be a distraction for the government, for which he has great respect. Matt has a bright future and I look forward to seeing all the great things he will do!”
Trump last week called personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior positions in the department. Another possible candidate for attorney general, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as U.S. ambassador to NATO.
Bondi has also been a loyalist for many years. She has been an outspoken critic of the criminal cases against Trump and of Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged Trump in two federal cases. In a radio appearance, she blasted Smith and other prosecutors who accused Trump of being “terrible” people who she said were trying to make a name for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our justice system.”
If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, Bondi would immediately become one of the most closely watched members of Trump’s Cabinet given Republicans’ Republican stance. threat to pursue retaliation against perceived opponents and concerns among Democrats that he will try to bend the Justice Department to his will. A recent Supreme Court opinion not only granted broad immunity to former presidents, but also reaffirmed a president’s exclusive authority over the Justice Department’s investigative functions.
Bondi would inherit a Justice Department expected to pivot sharply on civil rights, corporate enforcement and the prosecution of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol – defendants to whom Trump has promised pardons.
It is unlikely that Bondi would be confirmed in time as an overlap with Smith, who had filed two federal charges against Trump both of which are expected to end before the new president takes office. Special counsels are expected to prepare reports on their work that have historically been made public, but it remains unclear when such a document would be released.
In 2013, Bondi, while Florida’s attorney general, publicly apologized for his request to stay the execution of a man convicted of murder because it conflicted with a campaign fundraiser.
Bondi said she was wrong and regretted asking the then government. Rick Scott postponed Marshal Lee Gore’s execution by three weeks.
Before running for district attorney in 2010, Bondi worked for the Hillsborough County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.