Matt Gaetz will ultimately not become US Justice Minister. In the series of sensational appointments announced by President-elect Donald Trump for his future administration, that of Matt Gaetz appeared to be one of the most controversial. The Republican finally gave up his candidacy, which still had to be validated by the Senate, “in a context of an outbreak of accusations of drug consumption and inappropriate sexual behavior”, in particular against a minor, as indicated The Wall Street Journal.
Thursday, November 21, in the early evening, the new president-elect announced on his Truth Social network the appointment of the former Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi, to the Minister of Justice. “I am proud to announce that former Attorney General of the great state of Florida, Pam Bondi, will be our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on violent criminals,” he said. While Pam Bondi was Florida’s first female attorney general between 2011 and 2019, she may be better known in recent years as a loyalist of the former president, reports The Guardian.
She made numerous appearances at certain Donald Trump rallies during the last days of the billionaire’s campaign. Pam Bondi is also close to the new president’s entourage. She was notably a partner at Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm headed by Donald Trump’s new chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and whose founder, Brian Ballard, is one of the Republican’s main fundraisers.
A relief for Donald Trump’s supporters
Pam Bondi’s ties to Donald Trump go back several years. While she was attorney general of Florida, she supported the real estate mogul in 2016 against a candidate from her home state, Marco Rubio, recalls the British daily. She served as president of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank created by former members of the Trump administration, and was part of its first transition team. Pam Bondi was also part of Donald Trump’s team of lawyers during his Senate impeachment trial in 2020. According to the channel ABC Newsshe was also part of a group of Republicans who showed up to support Donald Trump during his criminal trial for influence peddling in New York, which ended in May with a conviction on 34 counts .
She is unlikely to take up her position at the department before the indictments end, before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, notes Le Figaro. On the other hand, she will be responsible for the files of hundreds of her supporters accused of having participated in the riot of January 6, 2021 against the Capitol, which Joe Biden’s successor has committed to pardoning.
However, on Thursday evening, a general feeling of relief reigned among those working on the president-elect’s transition, the channel reports. CNN. And for good reason: Pam Bondi’s confirmation process should be easier than that of Matt Gaetz, given her experience as Florida attorney general and her relationships with the Capitol. Some lawmakers were concerned that Matt Gaetz did not have the temperament or experience necessary to lead a department that has long valued its independence and impartiality in law enforcement, notes the National Public Radio (NPR).