Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi address the Republican National Convention on Aug. 25, 2020 in Washington, D.C.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday evening he plans to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his newest pick for U.S. attorney general.

Trump’s announcement came just hours after another Floridian, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew as Trump’s expected nominee for the country’s top law enforcement job.

Gaetz was tapped to be nominated eight days ago, but met strong opposition from Republican senators following years of investigations for alleged drug use and payments for sex.

“Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” Trump wrote on social media. “Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term — We saved many lives!”

Trump added that Bondi would “refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, cheered her nomination.

“Well done, Mr. President. Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick,” Graham wrote on social media. “She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly.”

Women as attorneys general

Bondi, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, would become the third woman to serve as attorney general and the first during a Republican administration.

Janet Reno was the first woman to become attorney general, holding the role from 1993 to 2001 during the Clinton administration. Loretta E. Lynch became the second female attorney general, from 2015 to 2017 during the Obama administration.

Bondi is a longtime Trump ally. In 2016, during the Republican National Convention, she led the “lock her up” chants at then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Bondi defended the former president in his first impeachment trial and leads the legal arm of the pro-Trump think tank, America First Policy Institute. She also supported Trump’s baseless accusation that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. She was present to support Trump outside his hush money trial in New York earlier this year.

She served as Florida’s attorney general, from 2011 until 2019, and in that capacity led opposition to the 2010 health care law.

Bondi background

Bondi graduated from the University of Florida and earned her law degree at Stetson Law School in 1990. She was admitted to the Florida bar in 1991.

Bondi is registered as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners LLC in Washington, D.C., where she’s lobbied on behalf of the Florida Sheriffs Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, Inc. and Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund, according to congressional lobbying records.

The attorney general is responsible for overseeing the U.S. Justice Department and the 115,000 federal employees who work throughout its dozens of components.

The DOJ consists of numerous federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as U.S. attorneys. 

The Florida Democratic Party issued a statement in reaction to Trump’s announcement that underlined Bondi’s role in challenging the landmark health care law.

“Americans dodged a bullet with Gaetz’s withdrawal but Trump’s second choice for Attorney General is no better,” said state party Chair Nikki Fried. “Don’t forget — Pam Bondi tried to take healthcare away from millions of Floridians. She was the ring leader in the attempt to sue the Affordable Care Act out of existence and overturn the pre-existing conditions rule. She filed the original suit and was the lead plaintiff on the case seeking to dismantle affordable care. When Donald Trump says he’s going to end the ACA, believe him now that he’s nominated Pam Bondi to finish the job.”