“I am proud to announce former attorney-general of the great state of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next attorney-general of the United States,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network following Gaetz’s announcement.
“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 wrote on social media, announcing his decision to step aside.
Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration to be the United States’ next attorney-general. Source: Getty / Mario Tama
Who is Pam Bondi?
After the 2020 US presidential election, she echoed Trump’s false claims of voter fraud without providing evidence.
Pam Bondi was a member of Donald Trump’s legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial. Source: Getty / Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis
Most recently, Bondi helped lead the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute, a right-leaning think tank whose personnel has worked closely with Trump’s campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration.
Bondi would likely face less opposition from senators involved in the confirmation process.
Donald Trump said Pam Bondi would end the “weaponisation” of the justice department. Source: AAP, AP / Alex Brandon
Trump, who was elected on 5 November from US and state prosecutors, including a felony conviction in the state of New York, said Bondi would end the “weaponisation” of the justice department.
“Pam will refocus the DOJ (Department of Justice) to its intended purpose of fight Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The exit of Gaetz, 42, was the first setback for Trump and Vice-president elect JD Vance in placing key allies in top positions, but his confirmation by the Senate was widely seen as doomed due to lack of support from fellow Republicans.
