Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. ...

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference meeting on Feb. 23 in National Harbor, Md. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump has named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.

Bondi is a longtime ally of Trump's and served as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. She is an official with the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former staffers from Trump's first presidency.

In a statement announcing the selection, Trump said: "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. 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!"

Trump added: "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."

The announcement Thursday evening came hours after former Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general.

Gaetz's nomination faced controversy from the start stemming from allegations that he participated in sex parties, used illegal drugs and had sex with a minor — allegations that Gaetz has consistently denied. The FBI investigated these charges beginning in 2021, but the Justice Department never brought charges.