Washington:
Donald Trump has once again shown his preference for loyalists by nominating Pam Bondi as Attorney General. This decision came after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration due to allegations of sex trafficking and drug use.
Here are five key facts about Pam Bondi, the new Attorney General nominee chosen by Trump:
- In 2010, Pam Bondi made history by becoming the first female attorney general of Florida. Prior to this, she had an extensive career as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office. During her tenure as attorney general, Bondi focused on issues such as human trafficking and advocated for tougher laws in this area. She also initiated a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. Bondi served in this role for 8 years, from 2011-2019.
- As a long-time supporter of Trump, Bondi represented him as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. She stood by Trump’s allegations of corruption against Joe Biden and his son Hunter, even though these claims were never proven. Bondi’s loyalty to Trump earned her a prominent role at the Republican National Convention in the same year.
- Bondi was involved in a custody battle over a dog named Master Tank, who she adopted after Hurricane Katrina. A family from Louisiana, the dog’s original owners, sought custody of him after learning of his whereabouts in 2006. Bondi refused to return the dog, citing neglect by the previous owners. However, the two parties reached a settlement before going to trial, with Bondi eventually returning the dog.
- In 2020, Pam Bondi supported Trump’s claims of election fraud following Joe Biden’s victory. While appearing on Fox News, she suggested the presence of fake ballots without providing any evidence to support her claims.
- Trump and Bondi have had a longstanding relationship. Trump praised Bondi’s intelligence and toughness, describing her as an “AMERICA FIRST Fighter” who will excel as Attorney General. In 2013, Bondi received a $25,000 donation for her attorney general reelection campaign from Trump. Despite this, Bondi did not participate in a lawsuit against Trump and Trump University that was being handled by her office. Both parties denied any connection between the donation and her decision not to pursue the case.
