Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, officially became the U.S. Attorney General following her Senate confirmation. Bondi, whose nomination was marked by controversy due to recent Justice Department operations, secured her new role with a 54-46 vote late Tuesday.
Fox News reported that in a bipartisan decision, the Senate approved Bondi as the U.S. Attorney General amidst intense scrutiny of presidential actions and Justice Department policies.
Before her confirmation, Bondi addressed the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 15, 2025. She emphasized her commitment to depoliticizing the Department, insisting on transparency and impartiality in her future role.
"Politics has to be taken out of this system," she remarked during the hearing, highlighting a vision for a just and equitable approach to national law enforcement.
The backdrop of Bondi’s confirmation was a period of heightened scrutiny of the Justice Department by Democratic members of Congress. Critics focused on recent decisions by the department under President Trump, particularly concerning the large-scale pardons and dismissals of key oversight officials.
The administration pardoned 1,600 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots and removed over 15 inspectors general and special counsel investigators.
This scrutiny extended to the FBI, which saw U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove instruct the acting director to conduct an internal review of all personnel assigned to January 6 cases.
Subsequently, FBI agents lodged two lawsuits seeking to prevent any review that might infringe on their duties or discriminate against them based on their handling of the investigations.
The bipartisan support for Bondi was notable, largely due to her support from Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who was the only Democrat to vote in her favor. This rare crossover vote was a critical component in her confirmation, highlighting a split view among senators about the direction of the Justice Department under her leadership.
During her confirmation process, Bondi also highlighted her priorities, which include battling drug trafficking, particularly addressing the crisis surrounding illicit fentanyl use. She has expressed a specific interest in dismantling drug cartels, signaling a robust law enforcement approach to narcotics.
Dave Aronberg, a former political rival in Florida, spoke positively about Bondi, suggesting her past actions demonstrate her capacity to prioritize policy over politics.
“But she stood up to them, and she did what she thought was right, regardless of political pressure,” Aronberg told Fox News Digital. He expressed hope that Bondi's tenure would refocus the Justice Department towards substantial policy issues rather than political maneuvering.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley praised Bondi's extensive prosecutorial experience and her achievements in Florida. "Bondi fought against pill mills, eliminated the backlog of rape test kits, and stood for law and order," echoed Grassley’s sentiments during Senate remarks.
Pam Bondi's confirmation was also supported by over 110 former senior Justice Department officials, including former attorneys general and state attorneys general from both parties.
These officials released a letter indicating the rarity and value of Bondi’s extensive experience in law enforcement, highlighting the collective endorsement by a wide range of legal practitioners who underscored her qualifications for the role of U.S. Attorney General.
Following her confirmation, President Trump took to Truth Social to commend Bondi’s capabilities and predict her success as Attorney General. “Congratulations to our wonderful and very talented United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, who gets sworn in today amid tremendous support, and the respect of ALL! I know Pam well, it was an honor to appoint her, and my prediction is that she will go down as one of the best and most consequential Attorney Generals in the history of our Country. Congratulations Pam, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” posted Trump.