Trump Picks Pam Bondi for Attorney General After Gaetz Withdraws

Donald Trump has chosen former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to run the Justice Department, announcing his pick hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration. Bondi, a 59-year-old Republican who worked for years as a prosecutor, is a more conventional pick than Gaetz. She has had a close relationship with Trump for years and served on his legal team during his first impeachment. She has led the legal arm of the Trump-tied America First Policy Institute and worked as a partner at Ballard Partners, the lobbying firm that once employed Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Bondi frequently appears on Fox News, including as a guest host for “The Five.” Trump told Bondi she was his choice for attorney general at his Mar-a-Lago home. If confirmed, Bondi would become the third woman in the role. Bondi immediately drew praise from Senate Republicans. With the selection of Bondi, Trump puts a less divisive loyalist in position to lead the agency. Bondi appeared frequently as a surrogate during Trump’s latest campaign, and spoke at one of his final rallies earlier this month. She emerged as a critic of the criminal cases against Trump and the prosecutors behind them, accusing them of weaponizing the legal system.