WASHINGTON—The Senate Judiciary Committee announced on Jan. 9 that the nomination hearing for Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, has been scheduled for Jan. 15 and 16.
In a Nov. 24, 2024,
statement announcing Bondi as his choice to lead the Justice Department, Trump cited her work as Florida attorney general including being tough on violent crime and combating the trafficking of narcotics. He also said she would stop what he said is “the partisan Department of Justice” having been “weaponized against me and other Republicans.”
“Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and making America safe again,“ he said. ”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!”
Trump selected Bondi after his initial choice, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), withdrew from consideration after it became apparent he did not have the votes to be confirmed.
“I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many,” Gaetz
wrote in a post on X on Nov. 21, 2024.
“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. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as attorney general. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”
Hearings for some of Trump’s other nominees have also been scheduled.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is
scheduled to hold a hearing on Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense, on Jan. 14.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
aims to hold hearings on Jan. 15 and 16, respectively, for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Rubio was nominated to be secretary of state, while Stefanik is Trump’s pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
