On November 22, President-elect Donald Trump announced he was nominating former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as Attorney General. The decision comes as critics have raised concerns about theDOJ’s recent decline in effectiveness and its illegal targeting of political adversaries.
Bondi’s background is impressive and makes her the perfect choice for what will certainly be a monumental task- to clean up the DOJ. She earned her degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida before going on to earn her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. After being admitted to the Florida Bar, she spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, handling a wide range of cases, from domestic violence to capital murder.
In 2010, Bondi made history as Florida’s first female Attorney General where she became known for her aggressive stance on issues such as opioid abuse, synthetic drugs, and human trafficking. Noticeably, during her tenure, she secured reforms that targeted fraudulent doctors and shady clinics across the state. Bondi also served on the President’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during the first Trump administration where she worked closely with national leaders to address drug prevention, interdiction, and treatment strategies.
She has been a long-time vocal critic of the DOJ, particularly during the first impeachment trials of President Donald Trump. She was a prominent member of Trump’s legal defense team during those proceedings where she vigorously argued against the partisan overreach of the flawed investigation.
Another important aspect of her background that makes her a particularly promising advocate for a return to equal justice under the law in this role is her work on criminal justice reform. She has championed initiatives like the First Step Act which helps formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into society and reduces recidivism. The law, signed by President Trump in 2018, seeks to reform sentencing practices, improve rehabilitation programs, and offer greater support for those transitioning back into civilian life.
In addition to her legal advocacy, Bondi has taken on leadership roles in several key policy organizations. She currently serves as the Chair of the Center for Litigation and Co-Chair of the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute.
The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Merrick Garland, has lost the trust of millions of Americans. The political nature of the DOJ priorities is evident to all reasonable observers. His targeting of pro-life Americans, or concerned parents at school meetings (labeling them terrorists), or his development of a two-tiered justice system where Antifa rioters are ignored, while January 6 protestors are targeted for harsh prosecutions, are just a few of the reasons why some call AG Garland, “the most political AG in U.S. history.”
This is the challenge facing a possible AG Bondi, and it is our hope that her strong sense of justice and fairness is just what this historical moment demands. Her ability to tackle some of the nation’s most pressing issues, even if unpopular, while consistently upholding legal principles makes her particularly well-suited for this role in the new Trump era. Bondi has repeatedly demonstrated her capacity to confront challenges, acting in line with the rule of law. With a strong background in criminal justice, advocacy for conservative legal principles, and a readiness to challenge politically correct narratives, she is the potentially transformative leader we need for the DOJ to clean house and gain the public’s trust once again.