The newly-elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Thursday that Pam Bondi, the past Attorney General of Florida, is to take over as the U.S. Attorney General. This decision came just after the initial choice, Matt Gaetz, opted to withdraw his name from the running.

Known as an ally of Trump, Bondi has a history of working with him as one of his attorneys during the President’s first impeachment trial. In this trial, Trump faced accusations of power abuse when he allegedly attempted to use U.S. military aid to Ukraine as leverage to probe the then-former Vice President, Joe Biden. Trump was, however, not convicted.

Bondi, who hails from Tampa, has an extensive background in law, with over 18 years of experience as a prosecutor. She has also been the chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by ex-staff of the Trump administration. Bondi holds the distinction of being the first-ever female Attorney General of Florida.

Earlier the same day, Gaetz decided to withdraw his name as Trump’s nominee for Attorney General in the wake of an ongoing federal sex trafficking investigation. This investigation raised questions about his potential to be confirmed as the country’s top federal law enforcement officer.

Bondi’s impressive background as a legal professional and state attorney general makes her a likely candidate to be confirmed by the Senate without much opposition. Further updates on this development are expected.

This article was originally published by The Associated Press on November 21, 2024.

Note: This article is informative and is intended for those with an interest in U.S. politics, including potential investors. However, it is not designed as an investment guide.