By MICHELLE L. PRICE and COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) – Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, was tapped by Donald Trump on Thursday to serve as US Attorney General hours after his first choice, Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration after a federal sex-trafficking and ethics investigation cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed.

The 59-year-old has long been in Trump’s orbit, and her name was floated during his first term as a potential candidate for the nation’s top law enforcement role.

If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, Bondi would instantly become one of the most watched members of Trump’s cabinet given the Republican’s position. the threat to pursue punishment against perceived opponents and Democratic concerns that he will try to bend the Justice Department to his will.

Here are some things to know about Bondi:

She has long been a fixture in Trump’s world

Bondi was an early and early ally. In March 2016, on the eve of the Florida Republican primary, Bondi endorsed Trump at a rally, choosing him over her home state candidate, Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

She gained national attention with appearances on Fox News as a defender of Trump and had a notable speaking spot at the 2016 Republican National Convention when Trump became the party’s surprise nominee. During the remarks, some in the crowd began chanting “Shut her up” about Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Bondi responded by saying: “‘Shut it up’, I like that.”

As Trump prepared to move into the White House, she was part of his first transition team.

When Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was ousted in 2018, Bondi’s name was floated as a possible candidate for the job. At the time, Trump said he would have “loved” Bondi to join the administration. In the end, he chose William Barr.

She kept one foot in Trump’s orbit thereafter, including after he left office. She was president of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork should he win a second term.

She was Florida’s first female attorney general

Bondi made history in 2010 when she was elected Florida’s first female attorney general. Although the Tampa native spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State’s Attorney’s Office, she was a political unknown when she served as the state’s top law enforcement officer.

Bondi was elevated in the primary after being endorsed by former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

She campaigned on a message to use the state’s top legal office in a robust way, challenging then-President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. She also called for her state to adopt Arizona’s “show me the papers” immigration law that has sparked national debate.

As Florida’s top prosecutor, Bondi highlighted human trafficking issues and called for tougher state laws against traffickers. He held the position from 2011 to 2019.

She has worked as a lobbyist for both US and foreign clients

Bondi worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners, the powerful Florida firm where Trump campaign chief and future chief of staff Susie Wiles was a partner. Its US clients include General Motors, the commissioner of Major League Baseball and a Christian anti-trafficking advocacy group.

She also lobbied for a Kuwaiti firm, according to Justice Department foreign agent files and congressional lobbying documents. He registered as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar; her work was linked to anti-trafficking efforts leading up to the 2022 World Cup.

Bondi also represented KGL Investment Company KSCC, a Kuwaiti firm also known as KGLI, in lobbying the White House, the National Security Council, the State Department, and Congress on immigration, human rights, and sanctions policy economic.

She defended Trump during his first impeachment trial

Bondi gave up lobbying to serve on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.

He was charged – but not convicted – of alleged abuse of power pressuring Ukraine’s president to investigate his Democratic rivals while crucial US security aid was withheld. He was also charged with obstruction of Congress for refusing investigative efforts.

Trump wanted Ukraine’s president to publicly commit to investigating Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. He pushed for the investigation while withholding nearly $400 million in military aid.

Bondi was hired to support White House messaging and communications. Trump and his allies have been looking to delegitimize the dismissal from the beginning, with the aim of dismissing it all as a farce.

She criticized the criminal cases against Trump

Bondi has been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump, as well as Jack Smith, the special counsel who prosecuted Trump in two federal cases. In a radio appearance, she accused Smith and other prosecutors who have accused Trump of being “horrible” people who she said are trying to make a name for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and screwing up our legal system “.