US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday announced former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi as his nominee for US attorney general, days after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration amid growing controversy.
Bondi, a close Trump ally, previously served on his legal team during his first impeachment trial over allegations related to Ukraine and the Biden family. She also publicly supported Trump during his New York hush-money trial, which concluded in May with 34 felony convictions. Bondi currently holds a leadership role at the America First Policy Institute, a group founded by former Trump administration officials.
Announcing the nomination on social media, Trump accused the Department of Justice of political bias. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponised against me and other Republicans — not anymore,” he said, adding that Bondi would refocus the DOJ on “fighting crime and making America safe again.”
Bondi’s nomination followed Gaetz’s decision to step aside after eight days of efforts by Trump to rally Senate Republican support for his confirmation. Gaetz withdrew amid scrutiny over a federal investigation into alleged sex trafficking. In a statement, Gaetz said his confirmation had become “a distraction” to the Trump-Vance transition and that he would continue his political work in a different role.
Trump later thanked Gaetz for his efforts, praising him for putting the administration’s interests first. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do,” he wrote.
The episode has drawn renewed attention to Trump’s other controversial nominees, including Pete Hegseth for a senior Pentagon post, who has denied sexual assault allegations.
Trump has also named Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior Justice Department roles, while former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker has been nominated as US ambassador to NATO.
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