Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been named as President-elect Donald Trump's new choice to run the Justice Department, following Rep. Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from consideration. Bondi brings a wealth of legal experience to the role, having practiced law in Florida for over a decade.
During her tenure as a prosecutor in Tampa and later as the state attorney general, Bondi gained a reputation for being a media-savvy and effective litigator. Elected during the conservative tea party wave, she became increasingly partisan over her two terms in office, making regular appearances on Fox News and serving as a top Florida surrogate for Trump during his 2016 campaign.
Bondi's legal history includes involvement in high-profile cases that garnered national attention. She led an unsuccessful effort to overturn Obamacare in 2012 and defended Florida's ban on gay marriage following the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016.
After leaving the attorney general's office, Bondi joined Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with close ties to Trump. She represented the country of Qatar from 2019 to 2020, as disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Bondi also joined a group of pro-Trump lawyers in filing an amicus brief in a federal appeals court case related to the special counsel's classified documents, supporting Trump's claim of an unlawful appointment.
Additionally, Bondi was involved in a legal dispute over the custody of a St. Bernard named Master Tank with a Louisiana family post-Hurricane Katrina. The family accused Bondi of taking the dog, while Bondi alleged neglect on their part. The case was settled before trial, and Master Tank was returned to his family.
