Bondi, who was the first female attorney general in Florida, is expected to face a smoother confirmation process in the Senate.
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov. 21 that he had chosen Pam Bondi, a longtime supporter of his and Florida’s former attorney general, to lead the U.S. Justice Department during his second term.
News of her nomination came shortly after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his name from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct and concerns about garnering enough support among senators for his confirmation.
Bondi is expected to face a smoother process in the Senate. If confirmed, she would serve as the nation’s third female attorney general.
Here are some things to know about Bondi and what to expect during her confirmation hearing.
Florida’s First Female Attorney General
Bondi, 59, has decades of experience in law enforcement and, in 2011, became the Sunshine State’s first female attorney general.
Trump praised Bondi for her work on public safety and drug trafficking when he announced the nomination.
“Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country.”
According to her bio, she is a fourth-generation Floridian. Her father was the mayor of a town in Hillsborough County, a county where she also served as a prosecutor for years. Bondi received a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from the University of Florida and graduated from Stetson University College of Law.
During Bondi’s time as attorney general, she also defended the state’s attempt to enforce a traditional definition of marriage.
Vocal Trump Supporter
Bondi has been at the forefront of supporting Trump, who has vowed to end what he called the weaponization of the justice system.
“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump said on Truth Social on Nov. 21. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”
By Sam Dorman
