Over the weekend, President-elect Trump continued to fill out his slate of Cabinet and administrative positions for his second term in the Oval Office. But on Thursday, one of his selections backed out: Matt Gaetz, Trump's original selection for U.S. attorney general. Later that same day, Trump said he would nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department.
Florida Family Voice is optimistic about Bondi's nomination for the AG slot, which requires the "advice and consent" of the Senate. "We're looking forward to hearing hopefully some of the Republican legislators just get more of a feel in the confirmation hearings for where she stands on certain policy issues," says Aaron DiPietro of Florida Family Voice.
Bondi served as Florida's AG from 2011 to 2019. She focused heavily on fighting drug trafficking, the opioid crisis, and human trafficking. Bondi also fought the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. According to DePietro, she was more focused on the legal aspects of those policy issues, as opposed to the political aspects.
"… Maybe she wasn't supposed to, but she didn't take clear policy positions on a lot of conservative issues," he explains. "So, I definitely think she was a good law enforcement officer in her position as attorney general. But … we're definitely interested to see what her policies would be on specific issues, such as the life issue."
Abortion access has been a major issue in the Biden-Harris administration. The Department of Justice under Biden's attorney general, Merrick Garland, has been criticized for not doing more to protect pregnancy resource centers. Garland has also been blasted for going after pro-life activists such as Mark Houck. Houck was later acquitted on federal charges.
"She [Bondi] did defend a few life bills in her official capacity as attorney general, but we're definitely interested to see where she stands on a lot of these policy issues," DiPietro adds.
Bondi has also worked as a lobbyist for both U.S. and international clients. Based on that, DiPietro says he will be interested to see how she is able to "break apart the corruption" in the Department of Justice.
"But we're definitely relieved that she is a nominee compared to the prior nominee," DiPietro concludes. "Matt Gaetz definitely had some moral and actually, not a lot of people know, a lot of actually liberal political policy positions in his past as well. So, we are definitely relieved that he has withdrawn his nomination."
Strong conservative values
AFN also talked with Bondi's predecessor in the Florida AG position, who thinks Bondi would make great U.S. attorney general.
"I think she is a great choice for him [Trump] and for the country," former Florida AG Bill McCullum says. "She has a lot of strong conservative values that I think are apparent or she would not be where she is today. I think she will do a good job."
A native of Tampa, Bondi worked for the state attorneys office during McCullum's time as attorney general (2007-2011). It was during that period that Bondi focused on major felony murder trials, prosecuting a number of them over a period of time.
"I always thought she was a pleasant person to talk with, but everybody who worked with her in any capacity in the criminal justice system always said, 'She's tough as nails' – which is probably an apt description in that regard," McCullum shares.
"So, I think she has several qualities. One is she's personable, she makes a good appearance. She is bright. And … she has a reputation for being a really tough prosecutor – and having values too. I think that is very important in this, too."
