That didn’t last long. In a surprise move, former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) abruptly withdrew his name as attorney general in the new Trump administration on Thursday morning.
Citing concerns that his nomination was a distraction from the Trump-Vance agenda and the new administration’s ability to be “in place and ready on day one,” Gaetz reiterated his commitment to ensuring Trump’s second term will be a success.
BREAKING: Matt Gaetz withdraws from nomination for attorney general
Matt Gaetz Retreat: Why It Happened and What’s Next
The question then became who President-elect Trump would choose as his replacement candidate. We now have an answer to that. Trump has announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new nominee for the job.
I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam served as a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, cracking down on violent criminals and keeping Florida’s streets safe and sound for families. As Florida’s first female attorney general, she then worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs and alleviate the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths that have devastated many families across our country. She did such great work that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first term – we saved many lives!
For too long the partisan Justice Department has been used as a weapon against me and other Republicans – no more. Pam will refocus the DOJ on its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe and sound again. I have known Pam for many years – she is astute and tough and an AMERICA FIRST fighter who will do a great job as Attorney General!
Bondi received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida in 1990 and her law degree from Stetson Law School. She served as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, Florida, and then as the state’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019.
Most recently, Bondi worked with the America First Policy Institute.
She will likely face less headwind in the confirmation process, although the left will undoubtedly find reason to challenge the nomination. Stay tuned!
