How a Controversial Trump Ally Transformed Into One of His Most Secure Cabinet Choices
Four years ago, Pam Bondi was viewed by Democrats as a significant threat to democracy. However, a shift in perspective is now evident, as numerous Senate Democrats are adopting a more conciliatory approach toward President-elect Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, who is poised to become the next attorney general.
TroibNews 
Pam Bondi is poised for a surprisingly smooth Senate confirmation process for the role of attorney general, signaling the significant shift in her standing since 2020. Back then, she was largely shunned by Democrats due to her involvement as President-elect Donald Trump's personal lawyer in attempts to overturn election results.
Her upcoming two-day confirmation hearings, starting Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, are anticipated to be relatively uneventful. This is largely because other nominees are facing more serious allegations, and her predecessor, former Florida GOP Representative Matt Gaetz, was mired in controversy and was forced to withdraw.
Bondi has also initiated an apparent charm offensive with Senate Democrats, many of whom are actively seeking common ground on issues such as criminal justice reform and antitrust matters.
“I had a good meeting with her,” remarked Vermont Democrat Senator Peter Welch, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “She was very direct, very responsive … She’s got a lot of experience.”
Democrats harbor significant concerns about a Trump loyalist leading the Justice Department, particularly as the incoming president has indicated intentions to seek retribution against political opponents and has dismissed attorneys general in the past for not complying with his directives. Bondi, who represented Trump during his first impeachment and assisted in efforts to contest President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Pennsylvania, embodies that loyalty.
However, many Democrats have concluded that Bondi possesses the essential qualifications to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency, responsible for implementing Trump’s regulatory agenda and defending his executive actions legally. Recognizing their inability to unilaterally block any nominee in a Republican-controlled Senate, there is a consensus that challenging Bondi isn’t worth the extensive effort that might be required for a contentious battle.
A senior Democratic Senate aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategies, indicated that the Democrats on the panel are likely to use their platform to criticize Trump rather than focus on Bondi's past as Florida's attorney general.
“There’s no question she has the relevant experience managing one of our nation’s largest state departments of justice,” noted Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat Chris Coons from Delaware. “She’s been elected twice to be an attorney general. She’s managed a very large statewide Attorney General Office.”
Coons, open to potentially voting for Bondi, contrasted her experience with that of Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for the Department of Defense, who has faced allegations of misconduct.
Bondi served as Florida's attorney general from 2011 to 2019, during which she fought to uphold the state's ban on gay marriage and sought to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Following her time in government, she transitioned to a corporate lobbying role at the prominent firm Ballard Partners and co-chaired the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aimed at shaping policies for a possible second Trump term.
“The obvious concern with Ms. Bondi is whether she will … oversee an independent Department of Justice that upholds the rule of law,” Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin of Illinois remarked during a speech on the Senate floor Monday.
Democrats have made it clear they intend to hold Bondi accountable on this issue during her confirmation hearings, with Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a committee member, expressing the need for “an ironclad air-tight commitment to be the people’s lawyer, to put first and foremost the interests of the American people over loyalty or fealty to Donald Trump.”
Blumenthal also mentioned that he valued the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration on issues like “protecting kids online and curtailing Big Tech’s power” with Bondi.
Coons specifically pointed out the possibility of working together on criminal justice reforms.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley of Iowa reflected on why Democrats might be more accommodating toward Bondi despite her connection to Trump’s claims regarding the 2020 election. “The answer was obvious,” he said during an interview. “[Trump's] overwhelming mandate in the election. People want change, and if they want change, they're going to want the people the president wants carrying out his program.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Her upcoming two-day confirmation hearings, starting Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, are anticipated to be relatively uneventful. This is largely because other nominees are facing more serious allegations, and her predecessor, former Florida GOP Representative Matt Gaetz, was mired in controversy and was forced to withdraw.
Bondi has also initiated an apparent charm offensive with Senate Democrats, many of whom are actively seeking common ground on issues such as criminal justice reform and antitrust matters.
“I had a good meeting with her,” remarked Vermont Democrat Senator Peter Welch, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “She was very direct, very responsive … She’s got a lot of experience.”
Democrats harbor significant concerns about a Trump loyalist leading the Justice Department, particularly as the incoming president has indicated intentions to seek retribution against political opponents and has dismissed attorneys general in the past for not complying with his directives. Bondi, who represented Trump during his first impeachment and assisted in efforts to contest President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Pennsylvania, embodies that loyalty.
However, many Democrats have concluded that Bondi possesses the essential qualifications to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency, responsible for implementing Trump’s regulatory agenda and defending his executive actions legally. Recognizing their inability to unilaterally block any nominee in a Republican-controlled Senate, there is a consensus that challenging Bondi isn’t worth the extensive effort that might be required for a contentious battle.
A senior Democratic Senate aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategies, indicated that the Democrats on the panel are likely to use their platform to criticize Trump rather than focus on Bondi's past as Florida's attorney general.
“There’s no question she has the relevant experience managing one of our nation’s largest state departments of justice,” noted Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat Chris Coons from Delaware. “She’s been elected twice to be an attorney general. She’s managed a very large statewide Attorney General Office.”
Coons, open to potentially voting for Bondi, contrasted her experience with that of Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for the Department of Defense, who has faced allegations of misconduct.
Bondi served as Florida's attorney general from 2011 to 2019, during which she fought to uphold the state's ban on gay marriage and sought to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Following her time in government, she transitioned to a corporate lobbying role at the prominent firm Ballard Partners and co-chaired the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aimed at shaping policies for a possible second Trump term.
“The obvious concern with Ms. Bondi is whether she will … oversee an independent Department of Justice that upholds the rule of law,” Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin of Illinois remarked during a speech on the Senate floor Monday.
Democrats have made it clear they intend to hold Bondi accountable on this issue during her confirmation hearings, with Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a committee member, expressing the need for “an ironclad air-tight commitment to be the people’s lawyer, to put first and foremost the interests of the American people over loyalty or fealty to Donald Trump.”
Blumenthal also mentioned that he valued the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration on issues like “protecting kids online and curtailing Big Tech’s power” with Bondi.
Coons specifically pointed out the possibility of working together on criminal justice reforms.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley of Iowa reflected on why Democrats might be more accommodating toward Bondi despite her connection to Trump’s claims regarding the 2020 election. “The answer was obvious,” he said during an interview. “[Trump's] overwhelming mandate in the election. People want change, and if they want change, they're going to want the people the president wants carrying out his program.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
