Trump cabinet latest updates: Pam Bondi nominated as new AG pick after Matt Gaetz steps down

Former Florida congressman withdrew from consideration as more details of ethics investigation leaked

Matt Gaetz withdraws consideration for Attorney General position

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is Donald Trump’s new pick to lead the Department of Justice following the departure of former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.

“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,” Trump wrote in a statement on Thursday evening.

Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the role on Thursday.

In a statement on X, he said: “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.”

He was the subject of investigations into drug use and sex with a minor, allegations which he has always denied.

Meanwhile, police have released a detailed investigative report into Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality and military veteran Donald Trump has nominated to be America’s next defense secretary, after he was accused of sexual assault by a woman he met at a conservative conference in Monterey, California, in 2017, the latest resurfaced scandal to dog the incoming administration.

Key Points

• Trump names Pam Bondi as new AG pick after controversial first choice Matt Gaetz withdraws
• Right-wing podcaster and former agent Dan Bongino in line to head Secret Service, report says
• Watch: Pete Hegseth responds to sexual assault allegations
• Report: Gaetz had second sexual encounter at party with girl, 17, that included another woman
• Full story: Matt Gaetz drops out of consideration for attorney general

[22 November 2024 01:30 · Gustaf Kilander]

Pam Bondi once called for Hillary Clinton to be locked up: ‘I love that'

During the 2016 Republican National Convention, Pam Bondi responded to the crowd’s calls to “lock her up” in reference to former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by saying “I love that.”

Bondi said during her speech at the convention eight years ago that Clinton “deserves no security clearance.”

“How do you become president of the United States when you have no security clearance?” she asked at the time. “This lawlessness must stop right here, right now. Donald Trump will stop it.”

“Lock her up, I love that,” she said in response to a sign in the audience, prompting chants of the phrase.

[22 November 2024 01:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

Profile: Pete Hegseth — Fox News anchor turned nominee for defense secretary

Pete Hegseth has been nominated for secretary of defense under President-elect Donald Trump – but who is the relative unknown to the DC sphere?

Hegseth’s most recent role was as a host on the Fox & Friends morning show. That is where most of America knows him from, but he is also an author, husband and dad and even found viral fame – though it landed him in legal hot water.

Amber Raiken reports.

[22 November 2024 00:45 · Oliver O'Connell]

White House: Trump still hasn’t signed papers to officially start transition

More than two weeks after the 2024 election, the White House says President-elect Donald Trump and his team still haven’t executed the legal documents required to officially start the transition process that will end with him taking the presidential oath of office on the Capitol steps in just under 60 days.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the Trump-Vance team “not yet entered into the agreements with the White House and the General Service Administration” despite ongoing efforts to negotiate involving White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and his incoming Trump administration counterpart, Susie Wiles.

Andrew Feinberg filed this report from Washington, D.C.

[22 November 2024 00:30 · Gustaf Kilander]

Morning Joe hosts agreed to Trump meeting over fears of Joe Scarborough intern death probe, report claims

The hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, allegedly met with President-elect Donald Trump over fears that then-attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz would investigate the death of an intern in Scarborough’s office during his time as a Florida Republican congressman, according to a Puck News report.

On Monday, Brzezinski said: “For those asking why we would go speak to the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’”

“Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him,” she added.

[22 November 2024 00:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

ICYMI: Trump unveils latest merchandise grift

Donald Trump has unveiled his latest merchandising venture, a range of “limited edition” American Eagle-branded electric and acoustic guitars retailing from $1,500 to as much as $10,500 for a signed model.

“Coming Soon! The Limited Edition ’45’ Guitar. Only 1,300 of each Acoustic and Electric Guitars MADE – Some personally signed!” the president-elect announced on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday evening, accompanied by a photograph of himself brandishing one of the instruments, which he is not known to be able to play.

Joe Sommerlad has the story.

[22 November 2024 00:00 · Gustaf Kilander]

From 2019: Trump’s ‘impeachment adviser’ Pam Bondi says looming charges are weighing on him: ‘Is this difficult? Of course it is’

Background on Pam Bondi from 2019:

A White House adviser tasked with defending Donald Trump during the impeachment proceedings against him suggested the pressure of the looming charges was beginning to weigh down on the president just before an official vote.

Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general who the president hired last month to serve as a voice for the administration while it battles back against the public impeachment hearings, slammed the House-led inquiry in an interview with Fox News Sunday.

“Is this difficult? Of course it is”, Ms Bondi said. “And that’s why the lawyers, we are all handling this impeachment sham and charade with the weakest of weak evidence … now going to the US Senate.”

Chris Riotta reported at the time:

[21 November 2024 23:52 · Gustaf Kilander]

From 2020: Pam Bondi hits Biden over nepotism minutes before two of Trump's children speak at RNC

Some background on Pam Bondi from 2020:

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi lashed out at Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in her Republican National Committee address, criticising them for nepotism moments before two of Donald Trump‘s children spoke at his re-election convention.

Ms Bondi was first linked to the president in 2016, when, as the Sunshine State’s top lawyer, she dropped Florida’s probe into Trump University. Weeks prior to ending that investigation, Mr Trump donated $25,000 to her re-election campaign. All sides denied a quid pro quo.

The attack on the Bidens was the first of the RNC, months after Mr Trump responded to House Democrats’ impeachment trial of his interactions with Ukraine’s president by attacking Hunter Biden. He and his surrogates and legal team argued the younger Biden profited from his father’s work against Ukraine corruption as vice president.

John T. Bennett reported at the time:

[21 November 2024 23:45 · Oliver O'Connell]

Despite him saying he has ‘no idea’ what it is, Trump’s cabinet is filling up with Project 2025 authors

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence... 😒

Alex Woodward has the details.

[21 November 2024 23:41 · Gustaf Kilander]

Trump names Pam Bondi as new AG pick after controversial first choice Matt Gaetz withdraws

Donald Trump has announced that former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will be nominated as his US Attorney General, after controversial first pick Matt Gaetz withdrew from the role.

“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,” Trump wrote in a statement on Thursday evening.

“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!”

Mike Bedigan reports.

[21 November 2024 23:35 · Gustaf Kilander]

Donald Trump announces new nominee for attorney general

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday night that former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will be his next nominee to lead the Department of Justice following the departure of former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.

“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,” Trump wrote. “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,” he added. “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,” the president-elect claimed. “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!”