US President-elect Donald Trump has finally changed his stance. He has nominated his loyalist Pam Bondi as attorney general in his future administration. Previously, Trump nominated Matt Gaetz for the position. He is a former member of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the US Parliament Congress.
Gaetz, who faced widespread criticism over allegations of sex and drug use, withdrew his nomination after opposition from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to replace him.
In a post on social media last Thursday nominating Pam Bondi, Trump wrote, "For too long, the Judiciary has been used as a weapon against me and other Republicans. It will not happen again." Trump also said Pam Bondi would work with the judiciary to fight crime and make America safe again.
Pam Bondi's appointment as Attorney General will require approval from the Senate, the upper house of Congress, to become final.
Who is this Pam Bondi?
Pam Bondi is 59 years old. In 2010, she made history by becoming the first female attorney general of Florida. Pam Bondi held the position from 2011 to 2019.
During her tenure, Pam Bondi emphasized the issue of human trafficking, advocating for stronger Florida laws against traffickers.
"On paper, she (Pam Bondi) is a qualified person for this position. She has spent her entire life handling cases. Her resume is much richer than the last nominee," David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Florida, told Reuters.
Relationship with Trump
Pam Bondi has been in the Trump circle for several years. She is one of Trump's early supporters. Pam Bondi was widely supported by Trump during his journey to the White House after winning the 2016 election.
However, Pam Bondi became more widely known on a national scale. She gave a series of speeches on Fox News in support of Trump. In addition, her memorable speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention further increased Pam Bondi's popularity.
Pam Bondi became a member of Trump's transition team when he won the election. She then became a member of the Trump administration's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission.
Bondi was on Trump's legal team when the impeachment process began during his first term as president.