Senate Confirms Pam Bondi as Attorney General in Narrow Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as the next U.S. Attorney General on Tuesday night in a 54-46 vote, marking a significant step in filling out President Donald Trump‘s administration. The vote largely followed party lines, with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania crossing the aisle to support Bondi.

Fetterman told reporters after the vote that while Bondi was not his “ideal” choice, he believed she was qualified for the role. “I’m saying that she’s qualified, and it’s not my ideal pick, but it turns out that (former Attorney General) Merrick Garland wasn’t anyone’s ideal one either,” he said.

Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, was Trump’s second nominee for the position after former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida withdrew due to insufficient support from GOP senators. Her nomination advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week with a 12-10 vote.

During her confirmation hearing, Bondi criticized what she called the “weaponization” of the Justice Department under then-President Joe Biden. She pledged not to improperly target individuals with criminal probes, a reference to investigations into Trump. However, her claim of a “peaceful transition of power” after the 2020 election drew criticism, as it overlooked the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Bondi, a tenacious litigator, has a long history of prosecuting high-profile cases. Elected as Florida’s first female attorney general in 2011, she gained a reputation as a media-savvy and effective advocate for conservative causes. Her tenure was marked by partisan maneuvers, including her prominent role as a Trump surrogate during the 2016 presidential election.

After leaving office in 2019, Bondi joined Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with close ties to Trump and his chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Her confirmation solidifies her position as a key figure in Trump’s legal and political strategy.