NEW YORK — Pam Bondi, who previously served as Florida’s attorney general, has been appointed by Donald Trump to take on the role of U.S. attorney general. This announcement comes shortly after the withdrawal of his original nominee, Matt Gaetz, who stepped down due to a federal investigation involving sex trafficking and ethical questions that cast doubt on his potential confirmation.

At 59 years old, Bondi has long been a prominent supporter of Trump, and her name has often surfaced as a potential candidate for this crucial legal position during his first term. Trump shared Bondi’s nomination via social media on Thursday.

Should she gain confirmation from the Republican-majority Senate, Bondi will quickly find herself under the microscope as one of the most examined figures in Trump’s Cabinet. Concerns among Democrats remain about the possibility of Trump using the Justice Department for personal grievances against those he perceives as adversaries.

Here are some important highlights regarding Bondi:

A Trusted Ally of Trump

Bondi has proven to be an unwavering ally to Trump. In March 2016, she publicly endorsed him at a rally in Florida, choosing him over fellow Floridian Marco Rubio just ahead of the Republican primary.

She gained national attention through her frequent appearances on Fox News, where she staunchly defended Trump and was a key speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention. During the event, the crowd chanted “Lock her up,” aimed at Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival, to which Bondi responded with enthusiasm, declaring, “‘Lock her up,’ I love that.”

During Trump’s transition to the presidency, she was included in his initial transition team. Following Jeff Sessions’ departure as attorney general in 2018, Bondi’s name was mentioned as a potential successor, although Trump ultimately appointed William Barr.

Even after Trump’s presidency, Bondi has kept her ties to his circle, taking on the role of chair for the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded by former Trump aides to prepare for a possible second term.

A Trailblazer as Florida’s First Female Attorney General

Bondi made history in 2010 by becoming the first woman to hold the position of Florida attorney general. Despite having over 18 years of experience as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, she was relatively unknown in the political arena when she stepped into this significant role.

Her campaign gained traction after receiving a key endorsement from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin during the primary. Bondi’s platform included strong opposition to President Barack Obama’s healthcare law and support for Arizona’s contentious “show me your papers” immigration legislation.

In her role as attorney general from 2011 to 2019, she focused significantly on human trafficking issues, advocating for tougher state laws against traffickers.

Lobbying for Diverse Clients

Bondi has also worked as a lobbyist at Ballard Partners, a well-known Florida firm where Trump’s campaign chief and future chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was a partner. Her U.S. clients included General Motors, the Major League Baseball commissioner, and a Christian anti-human trafficking group.

Moreover, she provided lobbying services for a Kuwaiti firm and registered as a foreign agent for Qatar, concentrating on anti-human trafficking projects leading up to the 2022 World Cup. Bondi also represented KGL Investment Company, lobbying various U.S. government bodies on issues including immigration, human rights, and economic sanctions.

Defending Trump During His First Impeachment

In 2020, Bondi left her lobbying role to join Trump’s legal defense team during his first impeachment trial, which centered on accusations of abuse of power for allegedly pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals while withholding critical military aid.

Trump sought a public announcement from Ukraine’s president regarding an investigation into Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, who was linked to a Ukrainian gas company, all while nearly $400 million in military aid was delayed. Bondi’s responsibility was to enhance the White House’s communications and defense strategy as Trump and his supporters aimed to dismiss the impeachment as politically motivated.

Criticism of Legal Proceedings Against Trump

Bondi has been vocal in her opposition to the criminal cases facing Trump, labeling prosecutor Jack Smith and others involved as “horrible” individuals attempting to gain fame by “weaponizing our legal system.”

It seems unlikely that Bondi will be confirmed in time to interact with Smith, who has filed two federal indictments against Trump, and these are expected to conclude before the new president takes office. Special counsels generally release reports on their findings, but the timing of these releases is still uncertain.

Bondi also aligned herself with fellow Republicans in supporting Trump during his hush money criminal trial, which wrapped up in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts.

Throughout his presidency, Trump frequently pursued investigations into his opponents, including Clinton, and attempted to utilize the Justice Department for his own purposes, particularly in efforts to reverse the 2020 election outcome. Bondi appears ready to back such initiatives.

If confirmed, she would oversee a Justice Department likely to see substantial changes in areas like civil rights, corporate enforcement, and the prosecution of individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot—many of whom Trump has signaled he intends to pardon.

Her Own Political Controversies

In 2013, while serving as attorney general, Bondi faced backlash for trying to delay the execution of a convicted murderer so it would not coincide with a fundraising event for her reelection campaign.

Typically, attorneys general are present during execution dates to address any last-minute legal matters. Bondi later acknowledged her mistake and expressed regret for requesting then-Governor Rick Scott to postpone the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks.

That same year, Bondi personally requested a political donation from Trump while her office weighed joining New York in a lawsuit against Trump University over fraud allegations. Trump donated $25,000 to a committee supporting Bondi from his charitable organization, an act that violated laws concerning charitable organizations and political activities. After receiving the donation, Bondi’s office decided not to pursue legal action against Trump, citing insufficient evidence. Both Bondi and Trump have denied any wrongdoing.

Just two days before his inauguration in January 2017, Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle three lawsuits claiming Trump University defrauded its students. Additionally, he faced a $2,500 fine from the IRS for the illegal political contribution supporting Bondi, part of an investigation that led to the closure of the Trump Foundation.

A prosecutor appointed by then-Governor Scott ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue bribery charges against either Trump or Bondi regarding the $25,000 donation.

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Long reported from Washington. This report also includes contributions from Associated Press writer Michael Biesecker.