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 “.

Bondi is unlikely to be confirmed in time to overlap with Smith, who has brought two federal charges against Trump. both of which are expected to cease before the next president takes office. Special advisers are expected to produce reports on their work that are historically made public, but it remains unclear when such a document might be released.

Bondi was also among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his New York criminal trial, which ended in May with a conviction on 34 counts.

As president, Trump has called for investigations into political opponents like Hillary Clinton and sought to use the Justice Department’s law enforcement powers to advance his own interests, including trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Bondi appears to oblige him.

She will inherit a Justice Department expected to pivot sharply on civil rights, corporate law enforcement and the prosecution of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol – defendants Trump has pledged to pardon.

She had some of her own political problems

Bondi publicly apologized in 2013 while she was attorney general after she tried to delay the execution of a convicted felon because it conflicted with a fundraiser for her re-election campaign.

The attorney general, who represents the state in death row appeals, usually remains available at the time of execution for any last-minute legal issues.

Bondi later said he was wrong and regretted asking the then government. Rick Scott delayed the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks.

Bondi personally solicited a political contribution in 2013 from Trump as her office considered whether to join New York in suing over allegations of fraud involving Trump University.

trump card cut a check for $25,000 to a political committee supporting Bondi from his family’s charitable foundation, violating legal prohibitions against charities supporting partisan political activities. After receiving the check, Bondi’s office declined to sue Trump’s company for fraud, citing insufficient grounds to proceed. Both Trump and Bondi have denied wrongdoing.

Two days before he was sworn in as president in January 2017, Trump paid $25 million to settle three lawsuits alleging Trump University defrauded its students.

Trump also paid a $2,500 fine to the IRS on the illegal political donation to support Bondi from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which was forced to dissolve following a New York State investigation.

A Florida prosecutor appointed by then-Republican Gov. Rick Scott later determined there was insufficient evidence to support allegations of bribery against Trump and Bondi for the $25,000 donation.

Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Michael Biesecker contributed to this report.

Originally published: Nov 22, 2024 at 7:08 am EST