DeSantis Weighs In On Former Florida AG's Appointment as Trump’s Attorney General

Ron DeSantis, Pam Bondi; photos from X

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his congratulations to former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi following her appointment as the next U.S. Attorney General under the Trump Administration.

In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) page, Governor DeSantis praised Bondi for her strength and experience in representing Florida, adding, "The country will be well-served by the strong Florida representation in the forthcoming Trump Administration."

Bondi, a former Attorney General of Florida, replaces Matt Gaetz from consideration amid continued scrutiny over federal sex trafficking investigations. Though, Bondi is no stranger to scrutiny either.

Bondi faced significant scrutiny over multiple fundraising controversies during her time in office.

Her ties to Scientology sparked criticism after wealthy Scientologists organized fundraisers for her campaigns, though Bondi defended these interactions, claiming they wanted to support her efforts against human trafficking.

In 2011, she pressured two attorneys to resign from an investigation into Lender Processing Services (now Black Knight) amid the robosigning scandal, and soon after, received campaign donations from the company, which raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Bondi also drew backlash in 2013 for influencing Governor Rick Scott to postpone an execution to accommodate a fundraising event, an action she later apologized for.

The most significant controversy involved a $25,000 donation from the Trump Foundation, received shortly after Bondi’s office was considering joining a lawsuit against Trump University.

Though Bondi and Trump defended the donation, the IRS later determined it violated laws on nonprofit political contributions, leading to a fine for Trump and reimbursement to the foundation. Bondi was not fined or charged, but in 2021, records emerged showing that she directly solicited the donation for her PAC, reinforcing concerns about the propriety of the transaction.

Bondi, a staunch defender of Trump, has been a key figure in his legal battles, including serving as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. Known for her outspoken support of Trump, Bondi has criticized the Justice Department’s handling of cases against him, calling the actions of prosecutors “weaponized.”

The withdrawal of Gaetz, whose nomination faced significant opposition due to his limited legal experience and the ongoing investigation, opened the door for Bondi’s appointment. With years of legal experience and a history of loyal service to Trump, Bondi is expected to quickly gain Senate approval and play a pivotal role in reshaping the Justice Department under the new administration.