Donald Trump has named another nominee to potentially join his cabinet. Originally, Trump chose Matt Gaetz to serve as U.S. Attorney General in his new administration, but the nomination was quickly mired in controversy, and Gaetz chose to step down after CNN reported he didn’t have the votes to be confirmed; Pam Bondi, former Attorney General of the State of Florida, has now been tapped to step up as Gaetz’ replacement.
In a statement released on Truth Social, Trump announced Bondi’s nomination:
I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida 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, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term — We saved many lives!
For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!
Trump has previously promised to pardon the pro-life activists currently in jail for FACE Act violations on his first day in office, releasing them from jail.
Bondi’s nomination has been somewhat of a mixed bag on the issue of abortion. There appears to be scant information regarding her background on the issue, and what experience she does have as the former Florida AG does not give much of a hint as to where she stands. Bondi battled to keep Florida’s 24-hour waiting period in place, but an investigator from her office also dismissed the idea that an abortion facility was profiting from the trafficking of aborted fetal body parts.
In an interview with FOX Business earlier this year, she argued against the idea that abortion is a winning issue for Democrats:
It’s bizarre that our Catholic president was here doing a pro-abortion event in Tampa. There were maybe 25-40 people there. Our local press barely covered it at all. President Trump got way more coverage today on his impromptu press conference while being held hostage in a New York courtroom…
The polling is very clear. They care about the economy, they care about health care, they care about immigration, they care about the cost of living more than abortion. You know, six out of 10 women who’ve had an abortion say they felt pressured into it, so why can’t we all come together on things that we all believe in? — Talking to women about having babies instead of aborting babies, healthcare, adoption, foster care, things that we can all come together on. But that is just not happening… Joe Biden is getting no traction, especially in the state of Florida.
Later, in response to a different question on the show, Bondi responded:
… it’s these late-term abortions, even after 15 weeks. The mother knew she’s pregnant and the baby can feel pain. So many states still have that, Florida doesn’t, but you know, as I was saying, six out of 10 women feel pressured, they felt pressured, they said, to have an abortion, — by their partner, by their family members, by somewhere else.
And that’s where we can all come together and say, hey, let’s counsel these women to have these babies. Let’s support foster care. Let’s support adoption. I have two adopted nephews who are the loves of our lives. That’s what we need to all come together on in this country.
The abortion industry is not pleased with Bondi’s nomination, and despite her apparently scarce record on abortion, has already resorted to near-hysteria about her alleged “extremism.” Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All, released a statement slamming Bondi, saying, “Trump is packing his administration to the brim with extremists, and Pam Bondi is no exception. Just like his other nominees, he knows he can count on her to carry out his dangerous agenda without question. With our rights and freedoms on the line, our 4 million members are ready to mobilize to hold Bondi accountable for her anti-abortion extremism and stop this nomination in its tracks.”
Yet it isn’t just pro-abortion groups that have spoken out against her.
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Liberty Counsel previously pleaded with Trump in 2018 not to nominate Bondi as Attorney General. “Pam Bondi would be a disaster for U.S. Attorney General,” president and founder Mat Staver said at that time, six years ago. “President Donald Trump deserves someone who is competent, not afraid to take on unpopular issues, and who is willing to work hard. Bondi is not the right choice for this very important position. Mr. President, please do not pick an attorney general like the one we have had in Florida under Pam Bondi.”
The pro-life group does not appear to have responded yet to Bondi’s most recent nomination, but it was glad to see Gaetz go, with Staver writing, “Today, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. Now, President Donald Trump can nominate someone who is professionally qualified, morally upright, and who can end the weaponization of the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI. America’s future just became a little brighter today.”
Other pro-life groups have applauded Bondi. Concerned Women for America released a statement urging the Senate to confirm her quickly, and SBA List has previously endorsed her in 2010, and seemingly supports her nomination now as well.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA List, recently tweeted, “Congratulations, [Pam Bondi], on your well-deserved nomination for US attorney general! A proven leader, Pam is a founding member of our National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus. We look forward to seeing the DOJ restore justice & protect the dignity of all Americans under her leadership” (emphasis added).
It is uncertain how Bondi would address pro-life issues in a Trump administration. While Trump’s first term had many pro-life gains, he backtracked during his most recent campaign. At the very least, pro-lifers can hope that Bondi as AG will mean an end to the Department of Justice’s witch hunt against pro-lifers peacefully exercising the rights.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to include an additional remark from Donald Trump.
Call on President Trump to pardon the FACE Act prisoners on his first day in office.
