After former representative Matt Gaetz withdrew himself In consideration for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that he is selecting former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his replacement.
“I am proud to announce Pam Bondy, the former Attorney General of the great state of Florida, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” Trump said in a statement. He said she was “smart and tough” and would “do a great job.”
Bondi was the first woman to serve as Attorney General of Florida, spending eight years in the role after serving as an assistant state attorney from Hillsborough County. According to Mr Trump's social media posts, Bondi focused on curbing immigration and tackling the opioid epidemic during his tenure.
Bondy then turned his attention to national politics, working in the White House as both legal counsel and defense counsel for Mr. Trump during the Senate's 2020 impeachment trial. She was also a surrogate for Trump's recent campaign.
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If confirmed, Bondi will be in charge of the Justice Department's 100,000 employees and oversee investigative components such as the FBI and DEA. And she will take the top job in a department that has investigated and prosecuted Mr Trump for years.
Gaetz announced Thursday that he would withdraw his nomination for attorney general, just a week after Trump tapped him for the post. The selection was widely considered the most controversial made by a president-elect, including Gaetz. the topic was Multiple investigations into alleged conduct related to sex trafficking, obstruction, sexual misconduct, and illegal drug use. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing.
Gaetz immediately resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement, which came just days before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to meet to consider issuing a report into the investigation of the Florida Republican's conduct. When its jurisdiction over Gaetz ended with his decision to leave Congress, when the panel met a few days later, members said they could not agree on whether to release the report. The next day, after meeting with Senate Republicans, Gaetz announced he would withdraw.
Even Senate Republicans were skeptical of Gaetz's chances of being confirmed next year despite expected to have a slight majority in the chamber.
This is a developing story and will be updated.