Trump picks former Florida Attorney General to lead Justice Department

Donald Trump, the winner of the US presidential election, has announced his decision to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pamela (Pam) Bondi as the new head of the Justice Department.

This move comes after Matt Gaetz declined the role of attorney general, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Trump expressed his confidence in Bondi, stating that she would "refocus the Justice Department on its goal of fighting crime and restoring America's security." In a statement on Truth Social, Trump praised Bondi, saying, "I've known Pam for years – she's smart and tough, and she's America's first fighter who will do a great job as attorney general!"

If confirmed, Bondi, 59, is expected to take charge of the Justice Department, which will play a central role in Trump’s key policy initiatives, such as strengthening immigration enforcement and securing the US-Mexico border.

Trump has previously criticized the current composition of the Justice Department, particularly for two federal charges brought by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith — one concerning Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results and another related to his illegal possession of classified documents. Trump has promised to "renew" the department as part of his broader reform agenda.

Pamela Bondi, a Republican, served as Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, becoming the first woman to hold the position. In 2020, she was one of Trump’s defence lawyers during his first impeachment trial. Bondi has also led the legal division of the Institute of Politics, an organization that supports Trump, until 2024.

Meanwhile, Matt Gaetz, who had been nominated by Trump for the attorney general post, withdrew his candidacy. In a statement, Gaetz expressed gratitude for the support he received during his nomination but acknowledged that the process had become a distraction. He emphasized that he was fully committed to Trump’s vision and reiterated his belief that the former president would be “the most successful American president in history.”

The nomination of Gaetz faced backlash, particularly from employees within the Department of Justice. Reports indicated that many Justice Department staffers were opposed to Gaetz’s potential appointment. Gaetz’s candidacy had also been controversial due to a past federal human trafficking investigation in which he was involved, though the investigation ended without charges.

By Tamilla Hasanova