Gaetz retires as nominee AG | News, Sports, Jobs

President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, tapping a longtime ally after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration, amid the examination of allegations of sex trafficking.

Bondi has been an outspoken defender of Trump. She was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power while trying to make U.S. military aid to Ukraine conditional on the country to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. And she was part of a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his New York criminal trial, which ended in May with a conviction on 34 counts.

“For too long, the partisan Justice Department has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — No more,” Trump said in a social media post. “Pam will refocus DOJ on its goal of fighting crime and making America safe again.”

Gaetz stepped aside amid ongoing fallout from a federal sex-trafficking investigation that has cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s federal law enforcement officer. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations, but his nomination stunned many career Justice Department lawyers.

Gaetz, who passed the bar but was barely practicing as a lawyer, had very little experience relevant to the job. Bondi comes with years of legal work under his belt and another trait that Trump gets: loyalty.

The hasty withdrawal of Gaetz and the quick move to Bondi were the latest examples of Trump’s tumultuous decision-making as he rushes through his nominations — some of questionable character and credentials — at a breakneck pace without government vetting. which is typical of presidential transitions. It’s an omen that, despite running the most organized campaign for the White House this year, his return to the Oval Office could have the same kind of drama that permeated his first term.

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that the transition team considered reservations for his controversial nominees in case they are not confirmed.

Still, even in Trump’s world, things have moved quickly. Trump sought to use his landslide election victory to force Senate Republicans to accept challenging picks like Gaetz. The decision could strengthen scrutiny of other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, who faces sexual assault allegations he denies.

“While the momentum has been strong, it is clear that my confirmation has unfairly become a distraction from the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition,” Gaetz said in a statement a day after meeting with senators in an effort to win them over the support.