Pam Bondi Confirmed as New Attorney General by Senate Vote
It’s official: Pam Bondi has been confirmed as the new Attorney General with a Senate vote of 54-46. With this confirmation, President Donald Trump has rounded out his key cabinet positions, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The vote was initially scheduled for 1 am on Wednesday but was moved to 7 pm due to delays from Senate Democrats. Given the recent cloture vote for Bondi's nomination, it was evident that Democrats lacked the votes to block her.
The former Florida Attorney General received approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, passing with a 12-10 party-line vote. Democrats did not present a strong case against her, largely expressing frustration over Trump’s 2024 election victory.
Her qualifications and experience were acknowledged even during the hearings, where critics expressed concerns about her possibly being overly compliant with Trump. Notably, Senator Adam Schiff engaged in a contentious exchange during her hearing, which Bondi effectively countered. Senator Mazie Hirono’s performance was also criticized for its lack of substance.
Bondi has replaced Matt Gaetz as the nominee after he withdrew due to insufficient votes. CNN's legal analyst Elie Honig stated that she may be the most qualified candidate nominated in the last 50 years.
With 20 years of prosecutorial experience in Florida, including her tenure as Attorney General, Bondi brings a level of expertise that is comparable to, if not surpassing, many past U.S. Attorneys General.
Honig noted the legal challenges and controversies during the anti-Trump era and praised Bondi's qualifications amidst the political turmoil.
