President-elect Donald Trump nominated longtime ally and veteran prosecutor Pam Bondi to be his new attorney general, hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from the candidacy.
Bondi has a long career in law enforcement and previously served as Florida Attorney General.
A loyal Trump ally, she was a member of Trump’s legal team. His first Senate impeachment trial They also appeared in court and publicly supported him. his silence trial In New York.
“Pam served as a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, taking a very tough stance on violent criminals and making the streets safer for Florida families,” Trump said in a social media post announcing her selection.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bondi will become the Justice Department’s top law enforcement official, responsible for the department’s more than 115,000 employees and a budget of about $45 billion (£35.7 billion).
“For too long, the Department of Justice has used its weapons against me and other Republicans,” Trump wrote this evening, adding, “That is no longer the case.”
“Pam will refocus DOJ (Department of Justice) on its intended purpose: fighting crime and making America safe again.”
Trump’s plan for the Pentagon includes ending “weaponized government,” protecting America’s borders, dismantling criminal organizations and restoring Americans’ “severely shattered faith and trust” in the department.
Trump’s transition team will hope that Bondi’s nomination path is less tumultuous than Gaetz’s.
In response to this announcement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham predicted that Bondi’s selection would be “confirmed quickly,” saying, “A grand slam, a touchdown, a hole-in-one, an ace, a hat trick, a slam dunk, and an Olympic gold medal pick.”
News of Bondi’s nomination came about six hours after Gaetz said he would not seek the high-profile Cabinet post following days of debate over whether to release a congressional report into sexual harassment allegations against him.
In announcing his resignation, the 41-year-old said the controversy over his nomination was “unfairly interfering” with the work of the incoming Trump administration.
The report included findings from an investigation sparked by allegations of sexual harassment and illegal drug use. Gaetz vehemently denied the claims but said he hoped the retraction would avoid an “unnecessarily protracted Washington brawl.”
Later Thursday, Gaetz congratulated Bondi, calling her “an excellent choice for President Trump.”
“She is a proven litigator, an inspirational leader and an advocate for all Americans. She will bring needed reform to the DOJ,” he said.
It is unclear whether Gaetz, who resigned his House seat shortly after Trump nominated him for attorney general, will now try to retain his seat.
Since his landslide victory in the presidential election earlier this month, President Trump has nominated several close allies to fill senior positions in his administration.
