President-elect Donald Trump nominated his long time ally, Pam Bondi, on Thursday for Attorney General. If confirmed, Bondi may prove to be more dangerous than Trump’s initial nominee, former Representative Matt Gaetz.
Trump’s selection of Bondi came hours after Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration due to heightened scrutiny over allegations of sexual assault.
If confirmed, Bondi would lead the Justice Department and play a major role in federal investigations and prosecutions. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, has a long history with Trump and could prove to be even more dangerous than Gaetz in the role.
The 59-year-old was a member of Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial and at the 2016 Republican National Convention, she participated in the “lock her up” chants directed at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
After Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Bondi was involved in efforts to help him overturn the results, lying that Trump had “won Pennsylvania” during a news conference in the state.
Bondi and Trump’s relationship has been rattled with accusations of impropriety, which they both have vehemently denied. In 2013, when Bondi was the Florida Attorney General, the Trump Foundation made a $25,000 donation to a campaign group affiliated with Bondi. Subsequently, a bribery complaint was filed against both Bondi and the Trump Foundation by a Massachusetts attorney.
The ‘donation’ occurred around the same time as Bondi’s office was being requested to investigate allegations of fraud against Trump University. Bondi did not open a case against Trump, and the IRS fined him $2,500 for not disclosing his foundation’s donation to Bondi’s campaign group to tax officials.
The Lever reported on Thursday that Bondi is allegedly the sister of the lawyer who represented Elon Musk and Tesla in a federal lawsuit alleging security fraud committed by Musk. If confirmed, Bondi would have the legal power to end the federal investigation into Musk’s company.
Brad Bondi was listed in court documents as Musk’s attorney during his 2018 court battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who alleged that Musk misled shareholders about Tesla’s financial status.
Mr. Bondi worked to get a settlement with the SEC but Musk’s legal troubles continued a year later when the SEC alleged that the tech mogul had breached the agreement. Despite Musk’s appeal to the Supreme Court, the high court declined to hear the case in April.
There are multiple reports that Trump is considering nominating Brad Bondi as the new SEC chair to replace Gary Gensler.
The news comes as several of Trump’s cabinet picks are facing backlash. Pete Hegseth, who has been selected by Trump to serve as the secretary of defense, faces an allegation of sexual assault. Critics have accused Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence, of spreading pro-Russia propaganda.
