Not Being Matt Gaetz Does Not Qualify Pam Bondi To Be Attorney General

November 21, 2024

Not Being Matt Gaetz Does Not Qualify Pam Bondi To Be Attorney General

Washington, D.C. - This evening, Donald Trump announced that he will nominate Pam Bondi to be U.S. Attorney General, after Matt Gaetz withdrewfrom consideration earlier today.

Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, issued the following statement in response:

"Not being Matt Gaetz does not qualify you to be attorney general of the United States.

"Pam Bondi is a manifestly unqualified candidate for attorney general. Senators should reject her appointment and insist that the nation's top law enforcement role be filled by a qualified person with a demonstrated respect for the rule of law.

"We should expect an Attorney General Bondi to let corporate wrongdoers off the hook. As Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi sued to overturn the Affordable Care Act, sued to block the ACA ban on health insurance companies price gouging people with pre-existing conditions, and opposed efforts to reduce homeowners' mortgage loans in negotiations with financial institutions that had engaged in fraud and misconduct.

"We should expect an Attorney General Bondi to spread false claims about voter fraud and to undermine the Department of Justice's historic commitment to protecting voting rights. Bondi echoed Donald Trump's false claims of voter fraud after the 2020 election and has brought lawsuits to restrict voting access.

"We should expect an Attorney General Bondi to serve as a Trump loyalist and attack dog at the expense of the Department's independence and integrity. Bondi helped defend Trump during the first impeachment trial.

"In short, we should expect an Attorney General Bondi to lead a Department of Injustice.

"Americans deserve better."