Donald Trump has nominated former Florida attorney general and staunch Trump supporter Pam Bondi as the new pick for the attorney general of the United States after his OG pick Matt Gaetz withdrew his bid for the role. Gaetz’s withdrawal came after he faced intense scrutiny for ongoing allegations of sexual misconduct involving an underage girl and other women. Interesting, no? Let’s unpack it.
Just one day after lobbying senators in Washington to approve of his appointment in the top gig, Gaetz announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he would be withdrawing his name from consideration.
“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition,” Gaetz said.
“There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney-General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on day one.”
In response, Trump said that he appreciated Gaetz’s efforts.
“He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump said.
“Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”
A few hours later, Trump announced that Bondi would be his next choice for the gig.
To most people, Bondi seemed to be a more reliable and logical pick for the role. So, who is she? Who is Gaetz? And where did all the drama come from?
Who is Matt Gaetz?
Matt Gaetz, 42, is a far-right Republican politician and lawyer who was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 2016. He served as the US representative for Florida’s first congressional from 2017 until he resigned in 2024. Gaetz is a third-generation state politician, with both his father and grandfather holding positions as state senators.
He has long been thought of as a “tireless defender” of Trump.
When Trump selected Gaetz as his pick for the attorney general position, it was one of the most controversial picks in United States history.
Since 2021, the House Ethics Committee has been investigating Gaetz over allegations he had sex with an underage girl, used illicit drugs, misused campaign funds, shared inappropriate images on the House floor and accepted bribes. Also, he’s never worked for the Department of Justice (DOJ) or as a prosecutor — both of which are almost always a precursor to nabbing the top legal job.
What allegations does Matt Gaetz have against him?
Gaetz has been at the centre of a long-running investigation by the House Ethics Committee, over allegations he had sex with an underage girl, used illicit drugs, misused campaign funds, shared inappropriate images on the House floor and accepted bribes.
Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the investigation has been an attempt to smear his name.
However, the Ethics Committee report might never see the light of day, because Gaetz resigned from Congress with immediate effect on November 13 — the same day Trump announced his nomination. Coincidence, no?
Who is Pam Bondi?
Pam Bondi, 59, was the attorney general of Florida between 2011 and 2019 — the first female attorney general the state had ever had.
She’s also a long-time Trump supporter, serving as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial in 2019. She was later on his team in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, where he was convicted of 34 felony counts.
She also backed Trump’s cries of voter fraud after the 2020 election.
In announcing Bondi as his pick, Trump claimed that she would “refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again”.
“She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Now, we just have to wait and see if Bondi’s appointment will be confirmed by the Senate to see if she gets the job.
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