#ustrend #webstory Pam Bondi is Trump’s lawyer common after Gaetz withdraws: NPR #darakhonline

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during the annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 23 in National Harbor, Maryland. Mandel

Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Hide caption Toggle label Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump has named Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, as his

next choice for U.S. attorney general. Bondi is a longtime ally of Trump and served as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. She is a fellow at the America First

Policy Institute, a think tank founded by former staffers from Trump's first presidency. In a statement announcing the selection, Trump said: “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20

years, cracking down on violent criminals and making the streets safe for Florida’s families. Then, as Florida's first female attorney general, she worked to stop the trafficking

of deadly drugs and reduce the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths that have devastated many families across our country. She did such incredible work that I asked her to serve on

our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first term – We saved many lives!” Trump added: “For too long the partisan Justice Department has been used as a weapon against

me and other Republicans – no more. Pam will refocus the DOJ on its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again.” The announcement Thursday evening came

hours after former Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general. Gaetz's nomination was controversial from the start, as he faced allegations of

attending sex parties, using illegal drugs and having sex with minors - allegations that Gaetz has consistently denied. The FBI investigated these allegations starting in 2021, but

the Justice Department never filed charges.