President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Thursday that he would nominate Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, for U.S. attorney general, hours after his original choice for withdrew from consideration.
Mr. Trump has been keen to install a loyal ally to head the Justice Department, which he has suggested he wants to run more as a legal extension of his White House rather than with the relative independence that has been the department’s post-Watergate norm.
Ms. Bondi served on Mr. Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment and currently leads the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank that has kept close ties to Mr. Trump’s transition team. Ms. Bondi oversaw the filing of voting-related lawsuits in battleground states.
Toward the end of Mr. Trump’s campaign, she also began to appear more frequently as a surrogate speaking at his rallies, particularly as he tried to showcase his support with women.
“Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” Mr. Trump said in a social media post announcing his selection. “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!”
Ms. Bondi’s selection comes after the president-elect said he intended to nominate three members of his criminal defense team to top roles in the Justice Department.
His original pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, was a fierce and vocal adherent to Mr. Trump’s ideology. But Senate Republicans signaled they were reluctant to confirm him, particularly as he faced intense scrutiny over allegations of sex trafficking and drug use that Mr. Gaetz has consistently denied.
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