Who is Pam Bondi, Trump's next attorney general pick?
File photo
US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday (Nov 21) said that he would pick former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be the USAttorney General for his second term in the White House.
The announcement came just hours after Matt Gaetz, Trump's previous pick for attorney general, withdrew his name.
Gaetz's withdrawal of nomination came after a political storm was triggered in the US as he faces a House Ethics Committee probe into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl.
Who is Pam Bondi?
Pam Bondi, 59, was part of Donald Trump's defence team during his first Senate impeachment trial. He was accused of forcing Ukraine to conduct a corruption trial against Joe Biden.
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Bondi also leads the legal team of the America First Policy Institute, the think tank aimed to work on shaping Trump's policies for his next term in the White House.
Unlike Gaetz, Bondi's profile does not lean to the traditional experience expected of an attorney general.
Trump took to his Truth Social and wrote, "I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals."
“Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!” he further wrote.
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'He was doing very well but...'
According to The Guardian, Trump dialed Gaetz on November 21 to inform him that he did not have enough votes after which Gatez took his nomination back.
“I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be attorney general. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the administration, for which he has much respect," Trump said in a statement, The Guardian reported.
(With inputs from agencies)