2024-11-22 03:52:00
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was tapped by Donald Trump to be U.S. attorney general on Thursday, hours after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, was found guilty of a scandal. An investigation into federal sex trafficking charges prompted him to withdraw from consideration, while an ethics investigation raised questions about whether his abilities were proven.
The 59-year-old has long been in Trump’s orbit, with her name being mentioned as a possible presidential candidate during Trump’s first term.
If confirmed by the Republican-majority Senate, Bondi would immediately become one of the most closely watched members of Trump’s Cabinet as Republicans threaten retaliation against his opponents and Democrats fear he will seek to capitulate to the State Department. Do whatever you want.
Here is some information about Bondi:
He has always existed in Trump’s world
Bondi has been a long-time ally of Trump. In March 2016, on the eve of Florida’s Republican primary, Bondi supported Trump at a rally, choosing Trump over his state’s candidate, Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
She gained national attention by appearing on Fox News as a Trump supporter and gave a high-profile speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention, when Trump unexpectedly became the party’s nominee. During the speech, some in the crowd began chanting “Lock her up,” referring to Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
Bundy responded: “‘Lock her up,’ I love that.”
As Trump prepared to enter the White House, Bondi was a member of his first transition team.
In 2018, when Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was ousted, Bondi’s name was mentioned as a possible candidate for the job. Trump said at the time that he “would love” Bundy to join the administration. He ultimately chose William Barr.
Since then, she has remained in Trump’s orbit even after he left office. She served as president of the America First Institute, a think tank founded by former members of the Trump administration to lay the groundwork for Trump’s re-election.
She is Florida’s first female Attorney General.
In 2010, Bondi made history when she was elected Florida’s first female attorney general. Although the Tampa native served as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State’s Attorney’s Office for more than 18 years, she was a political unknown when she assumed the state’s top law enforcement job.
Bundy gained a boost in the primary after receiving the endorsement of former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
He campaigned on a message of aggressively leveraging the state attorney general’s office and challenging the health care law signed by then-President Barack Obama. He also sparked a national debate by calling for his state to adopt Arizona’s “show your papers” immigration law.
As Florida’s top prosecutor, Bondi highlighted the issue of human trafficking and called for strengthening the state’s laws against traffickers. He served in this position from 2011 to 2019.
She serves as a lobbyist for U.S. and foreign clients.
Bondi served as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners, the powerful Florida firm that is a partner of Susie Wiles, Trump’s campaign manager and next chief of staff. His clients in the United States include General Motors, the commissioner of Major League Baseball and a Christian anti-human trafficking activist group.
He also lobbied for a Kuwaiti company, according to Justice Department foreign agent documents and congressional lobbying documents. She is registered as a foreign agent with the Qatari government; his work is linked to anti-trafficking programs ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Bondi also represents KGL Investments KSCC, a Kuwaiti company also known as KGLI, in lobbying the White House, National Security Council, State Department and Congress on immigration policy, human rights and economic sanctions issues.
He defended Trump in his first impeachment trial
Bondi quit lobbying during the first impeachment trial in 2020 to join Trump’s legal team.
He was accused, but not convicted, of abusing his power for allegedly withholding U.S. aid while pressuring Ukraine’s president to investigate his Democratic rival. He was also charged with obstructing a congressional investigation.
Trump wants Ukraine’s president to publicly commit to investigating Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company. He pushed for investigations while withholding nearly $400 million in military aid.
Bundy was brought on board to bolster White House messaging and communications. Trump and his allies have sought to delegitimize the impeachment trial from the beginning, seeking to disqualify the entire affair from being a farce.
She has been critical of the criminal case against Trump
Bondi has been an outspoken critic of the criminal case against Trump, as well as Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who charged Trump in two federal cases. During a radio show, he criticized Smith and the other prosecutors who have charged Trump, calling them “horrible people” who are trying to “go after Donald Trump and use our legal system as a weapon.” Make a name for yourself.
Bondi is unlikely to be confirmed at the same time as Smith, who has filed two federal indictments against Trump that are expected to be completed before the next president takes office. The special counsel is expected to submit a historically public report on his work, but it is unclear when such documents will be released.
Bondi was also part of a group of Republicans who sided with Trump in his criminal trial in New York over his payment to conceal leaked information, which ultimately led to his conviction in May on 34 felonies.
As president, Trump has demanded investigations into political opponents such as Hillary Clinton and has sought to use the power of the Justice Department for his own benefit, including trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, something Bondi appears willing to do.
The Justice Department Bondy will inherit is expected to see dramatic changes on civil rights, corporate issues and the prosecution of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, which Trump has promised Forgive these people.
has its own political issues
In 2013, while serving as attorney general, Bundy publicly apologized after he tried to delay the execution of a convicted murderer to coincide with a fundraiser for his re-election campaign.
Attorneys general, who represent states in death penalty appeals, often remain available on the day of executions in case any last-minute legal issues arise.
Bundy later said she was wrong and regretted asking then-Governor Rick Scott to delay Marshall Lee Gore’s execution for three weeks.
Bondi personally sought political donations from Trump in 2013 as his office considered whether to join New York in litigating fraud claims involving Trump University.
Trump wrote a $25,000 check from the family’s charitable foundation to a political committee supporting Bundy, violating a legal ban on charities supporting partisan political activities. After the check arrived, Bondi’s office declined to prosecute Trump’s company for fraud, citing insufficient grounds to proceed. Both Trump and Bondi have denied any wrongdoing.
Two days before taking office in January 2017, Trump paid $25 million to settle three lawsuits accusing Trump University of defrauding students.
Trump also fined the IRS $2,500 for illegal political donations to Bundy from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which was forced to disband amid a New York state investigation.
Florida prosecutors appointed by then-Republican Gov. Rick Scott later determined there was insufficient evidence to support bribery charges against Trump and Bundy over the $25,000 donation.
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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How might Pam Bondi’s background as Florida’s first female Attorney General influence her policy priorities if confirmed for the role of U.S. Attorney General?
**Interview with Political Analyst Emily Carter on Pam Bondi’s Nomination as U.S. Attorney General**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Emily. Thank you for joining us today. Let’s dive right in. What is your initial reaction to Donald Trump tapping Pam Bondi for the position of U.S. Attorney General?
**Emily Carter:** Good evening! This is a significant move for Trump, reflecting his ongoing loyalty to his inner circle and allies. Pam Bondi has always been a staunch supporter of Trump, and her nomination suggests that he is looking to have a trusted ally in a critical position, especially as he faces legal challenges.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely. Given Bondi’s past roles, particularly during Trump’s impeachments and her criticisms of ongoing criminal cases against him, how do you think her confirmation will impact the Justice Department’s direction?
**Emily Carter:** If confirmed, Bondi is likely to push a narrative that aligns with Trump’s interests, especially regarding the prosecution of his supporters and the investigations he has faced. We can expect a focus on delegitimizing any legal actions taken against Trump while potentially enacting policies that reflect his administration’s priorities.
**Interviewer:** Pam Bondi has a notable past as Florida’s first female Attorney General and has been involved with significant issues like human trafficking. How might her background influence her policies should she assume office?
**Emily Carter:** Her experience in criminal justice and human trafficking could influence her focus on those areas within the Justice Department. However, given that her tenure in Florida was often characterized by a strong alignment with Trump’s policies, it’s likely we would see whatever initiatives she supports be intertwined with a political agenda that serves the current administration’s goals.
**Interviewer:** There are ongoing concerns over how Bondi’s nomination could impact investigations into the January 6 Capitol riot and other political matters. How do you foresee her handling these sensitive subjects?
**Emily Carter:** Bondi has been historically dismissive of charges against Trump supporters, and her approach would likely mirror that sentiment. There may be efforts to reduce the severity of prosecutions related to January 6 or to downplay the severity of those actions in line with Trump’s desire to “forgive” his supporters. This could create a very contentious atmosphere within the Justice Department.
**Interviewer:** What challenges do you think Bondi may face during the confirmation process, especially with a Republican-majority Senate and divided political opinions?
**Emily Carter:** While she may have strong support from Trump loyalists, any whiff of controversy stemming from her past actions, such as her lobbying ties and the public’s concerns over her alignment with Trump, could be raised during confirmation hearings. Democrats will likely express strong opposition, especially regarding her views on legal matters and her history with Trump, so it’s bound to be a contentious process.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Emily. It seems like Bondi’s potential confirmation could lead to significant political ramifications. We’ll certainly be watching closely as this develops!
**Emily Carter:** Thank you for having me! It will certainly be intriguing to see how this unfolds.
