Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was confirmed Tuesday evening by the U.S. Senate to become the nation’s next AG, replacing the fiercely partisan anti-Trump crusader Merrick Garland, who oversaw the radical decline of the nation’s premier law enforcement agency.
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She won by a vote of 54-46.
Congratulations to our new Attorney General Pam Bondi! pic.twitter.com/8C4D7uajGz
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) February 5, 2025
Bondi shone brightly in her confirmation hearings and easily swatted away some ludicrous questioning by Democrats. Our Susie Moore wrote:
…the Democrats did not lay a glove on Bondi. She kept her composure throughout, even in the face of pointed (and sometimes outright inane) questioning and pushing back when Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) became extraordinarily combative with her and refused to allow her to answer his questions.
Previously: Pam Bondi Deftly Handles Day One of Her Confirmation Hearing
Pam Bondi Clears Major Hurdle on Path to Becoming Attorney General—Senate Showdown Looms
There were several fiery moments in her hearings, including Bondi thrashing clueless Hawaii Dem Sen. Mazie Hirono and the hapless Sen. “Da Nang” Dick Blumenthal (D-CT), but perhaps the best exchange occurred when she thoroughly embarrassed “I’ve got evidence!” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA):
🔥 MUST WATCH: Future Attorney General Pam Bondi shuts down Pencil Neck:
“I’m not going to mislead this body, nor you. You were censured by Congress for comments like these.” pic.twitter.com/uYRAnM34DX
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 15, 2025
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Bondi had advanced out of the Judiciary Committee Wednesday on a party-line, 12-10 vote.
As Florida’s AG, Bondi made the opioid epidemic one of her priorities:
Bondi was first elected Florida attorney general in 2010, defeating Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber after earning the endorsement of former Republican Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
As Florida attorney general, Bondi led a challenge brought by more than two dozen states to President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately upheld the health care law. Bondi also fought to uphold Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage — arguing that marriage should be defined by each state.
One of her top priorities as attorney general was going after so-called pill mills, or clinics that hand out large amounts of prescription painkillers and helped fuel the country’s opioid crisis.
“I did my best to keep Florida safe, to continue to stand up for victims of crime, and to fight the opioid crisis and the drug crisis that was not only faced Florida, but this entire country,” Bondi said Wednesday.
Bondi becomes the latest of Trump’s Cabinet picks to be confirmed, joining Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and others. Still in the on-deck circle: Health and Human Services Secretary nominee RFK Jr. (who advanced out of the Finance Committee Tuesday by a 14-13 vote), Trump’s pick to be FBI Director, Kash Patel, and Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, who prevailed in the Intelligence Committee Tuesday by a 9-8 vote).
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Is anyone getting tired of all this winning yet? I’m not.
Update 2/24/25 8:15 ET: We have now learned that Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman voted in favor of Bondi. He was the only Democrat to cross the aisle and join all 53 Republicans.
