5 things you need to know about Pam Bondi
One of Donald Trump's most ardent supporters has been appointed to one of the most crucial positions in his second administration.
Pam Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and after he was elected in 2016, her name was floated for various jobs in the administration but it never panned out.
Trump chose Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be the nation's top law enforcement officer on Thursday, only hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration due to Senate opposition.
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Bondi is a partner at Ballard Partners, the lobbying business previously led by Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles and whose founder, Brian Ballard, is a major Trump contributor. She co-chairs the law and justice section at the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, which has been dubbed a Trump government in waiting.
Bondi is a longstanding Trump supporter, and following his election in 2016, her name was circulated for a number of positions in the cabinet, but none of them materialized.
She looks to have a more straightforward route to confirmation as attorney general than Gaetz, who faced charges of sexual impropriety and illicit drug use.
Here are five things you should know about Bondi:
She was the first female Attorney General in Florida
Bondi was the first woman to serve as Florida's attorney general, holding the position from 2011 until 2019. She spearheaded the state's lawsuit against opioid makers. It was settled after she left the workplace.
She resigned due to term restrictions and joined Trump's transition team following his first victory.
She's friends with Lara Trump
Bondi has a tight connection with Lara Trump, the president-elect's daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee chair. The two worked together to oppose a ban on dog racing in the state.
Bondi lobbied on Tuesday for Lara Trump to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump's candidate for Secretary of State.
She's a former Trump lawyer
Bondi served as Trump's top adviser and lawyer throughout his first impeachment trial, appearing on television to support his cause. Trump was impeached on grounds of abusing his power and hindering congressional investigations, but the Senate cleared him of the charges.
She dismissed the Trump University fraud lawsuit
In 2016, it was revealed that Trump had paid a $2,500 fine because his foundation allegedly gave $25,000 to Bondi's political election committee in 2013, before her agency decided not to continue a fraud probe against Trump University. Trump ultimately paid $25 million to resolve fraud allegations against the now-defunct university.
Bondi said that she was uninformed of the Trump University accusations at the time, and that the gift had no bearing on her office's decision not to pursue the issue. Trump has claimed he admires Bondi for never abandoning him despite the scandal.
Her dog custody dispute played out publicly
Bondi battled Hurricane Katrina victims for custody of a St. Bernard she acquired in 2005 after the dog was separated from his family following the catastrophe.
The family had been looking for the dog, but Bondi refused to surrender him. She accused the family of neglecting the animal, which they deny.
The family filed suit, and the fight lasted 16 months before the two sides reached an agreement before to trial. Bondi returned the dog to its family with food and medication.
