Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General After Gaetz Withdrawal

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Facts

  • Hours after Matt Gaetz announced his withdrawal, US Pres.-elect Donald Trump nominated veteran prosecutor Pam Bondi as his new attorney general.[1]
  • Trump revealed his choice in a tweet on his Truth Social platform Thursday evening, writing, "I have known Pam for many years — she is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!"[2]
  • Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, has vast experience in law enforcement. She was an ardent Trump supporter during the 2016 presidential campaign, served on his legal team during his first Senate impeachment hearing, and headed the think tank America First Policy Institute.[2][3]
  • Bondi has publicly denounced the criminal cases against Trump and special counsel Jack Smith, who pursued Trump in two federal cases.[4][5]
  • If approved by the Senate, Bondi would become the country's leading law enforcement official, in charge of the Justice Department, which includes the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Prisons, with over 115K employees and a budget of around $45B.[1][6]

Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]CNN, [3]Associated Press, [4]The New York Times, [5]ABC News and [6]NBC.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Florida Politics and PJ Media. Pres.-elect Donald Trump has made an excellent choice in selecting Pam Bondi for US attorney general. She has proven herself as an outstanding legal talent, having served both as a prosecutor and as the Sunshine State's attorney general for eight years. She is a real leader who will advocate for all Americans and restore justice and security to the nation.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by RealClear Politics and Salon. Like Matt Gaetz, Pam Bondi is a Trump loyalist who is prepared to protect him in every regard. Unlike Gaetz, however, she is competent — meaning she will actually be able to implement Trump's concerning agenda. Democrats may disagree with her ideologically, but she knows what she's doing. She understands law and justice. That's why she is a more dangerous and effective pick than Gaetz.