5 things you need to know about Pam Bondi

By: Shawn
One of Donald Trump's most ardent supporters has been appointed to one of the most crucial positions in his second administration.

Trump chose Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be the nation's top law enforcement officer on Thursday, only hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration due to Senate opposition.

Pam Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and after he was elected in 2016, her name was floated for various jobs in the administration but it never panned out.
Mandel Ngan/Getty Images

Bondi is a partner at Ballard Partners, the lobbying business previously led by Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles and whose founder, Brian Ballard, is a major Trump contributor. She co-chairs the law and justice section at the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, which has been dubbed a Trump government in waiting.

Bondi is a longstanding Trump supporter, and following his election in 2016, her name was circulated for a number of positions in the cabinet, but none of them materialized.

She looks to have a more straightforward route to confirmation as attorney general than Gaetz, who faced charges of sexual impropriety and illicit drug use.

Here are five things you should know about Bondi:

She was the first female Attorney General in Florida

Bondi was the first woman to serve as Florida's attorney general, holding the position from 2011 until 2019. She spearheaded the state's lawsuit against opioid makers. It was settled after she left the workplace.

She resigned due to term restrictions and joined Trump's transition team following his first victory.

She's friends with Lara Trump

Bondi has a tight connection with Lara Trump, the president-elect's daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee chair. The two worked together to oppose a ban on dog racing in the state.

Bondi lobbied on Tuesday for Lara Trump to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump's candidate for Secretary of State.

She's a former Trump lawyer

Bondi served as Trump's top adviser and lawyer throughout his first impeachment trial, appearing on television to support his cause. Trump was impeached on grounds of abusing his power and hindering congressional investigations, but the Senate cleared him of the charges.

She dismissed the Trump University fraud lawsuit

In 2016, it was revealed that Trump had paid a $2,500 fine because his foundation allegedly gave $25,000 to Bondi's political election committee in 2013, before her agency decided not to continue a fraud probe against Trump University. Trump ultimately paid $25 million to resolve fraud allegations against the now-defunct university.

Bondi said that she was uninformed of the Trump University accusations at the time, and that the gift had no bearing on her office's decision not to pursue the issue. Trump has claimed he admires Bondi for never abandoning him despite the scandal.

Her dog custody dispute played out publicly

Bondi battled Hurricane Katrina victims for custody of a St. Bernard she acquired in 2005 after the dog was separated from his family following the catastrophe.

The family had been looking for the dog, but Bondi refused to surrender him. She accused the family of neglecting the animal, which they deny.

The family filed suit, and the fight lasted 16 months before the two sides reached an agreement before to trial. Bondi returned the dog to its family with food and medication.

TRENDING!

Kate Hudson reveals why she regrets Devil Wears Prada decision

Image
Kate Hudson still regretted passing down a job in The Devil Wears Prada. The actress, who was first approached to play Andy Sachs (which Anne Hathaway eventually played), recently told Capital FM that she wished she had made her schedule work to feature in the 2006 picture starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. Kate Hudson. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association "That was a horrible decision. And it seems like a timing issue. "I couldn't do it, and I should have, but I didn't," Hudson said. "When I saw that one, I thought, awful. However, everything occurs for a purpose. There is a reason behind that. That was really like, 'I should've made that work.'" The Devil Wears Prada, directed by David Frankel, was based on Lauren Weisberger's novel of the same title. It follows ambitious writer Andy, who moves to New York City and begins working as an assistant to one of the city's most promi...
Read more

Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of raping 13-year-old girl in amended lawsuit

Image
Jay-Z and Sean Combs faced a civil lawsuit on Sunday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000. The case, filed in October in the Southern District of New York, first named the Roc Nation entrepreneur, Shawn Carter, as an anonymous celebrity defendant. Carter has flatly refuted the accusation, accusing the lawyer who filed the action of attempting to extort him with bogus assertions. Jay-Z. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images The accuser, suing as Jane Doe, claimed she was raped by Combs and Carter while being transported to an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. According to the amended lawsuit, Doe attempted to attend the VMAs but did not have a ticket. She was dropped off near Radio City Music Hall by a friend. She claims she contacted limousine drivers to ask for assistance in getting into the performance or afterparty. One of the drivers claimed to work with Combs and asked her to an after party. Per the lawsuit, he urged her to return to the pla...
Read more

What is Bell's Palsy? Signs, triggers, and treatment options

Image
Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that causes temporary facial paralysis, typically affecting only one side of the face. This condition can result in symptoms such as a lopsided smile, difficulty closing one eyelid, and a drooping face. Though the condition is temporary for most, it can significantly impact daily life. Lil Nas X reveals he's been hospitalized, says he's 'lost control' of half his face. Getty Images The Causes of Bell’s Palsy The primary cause of Bell's palsy is inflammation of the seventh cranial nerve, also known as the facial nerve, which controls the muscles of the face. Inflammation can disrupt the nerve’s function, leading to facial paralysis. While viral infections are often linked to the condition, many cases do not have a clear cause, making them idiopathic (of unknown origin). • Viral infections that may trigger Bell’s palsy include: • Herpes simplex 1 (which causes cold sores) • Epstein-Barr virus (responsible for mononuc...
Read more

Kanye West drops new song 'Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine' featuring Diddy, North West, King Combs, and Jasmine William

Image
‎On Saturday, Kanye West released his latest track titled "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine," a song that includes features from Sean "Diddy" Combs, his son King Combs, West’s daughter North West, and Chicago artist Jasmine William. The over four-minute-long track was shared by the controversial rapper on his X (formerly Twitter) account. ‎ ‎Sean ' Diddy ' Combs and Kanye West in 2016. ‎Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Live Nation ‎ ‎In the post, West described the song as a collaboration that brings together an eclectic mix of family and music industry figures, writing: “LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE new song by PUFF DADDY feat. His son KING COMBS my daughter NORTH WEST and new Yeezy artist from Chicago Jasmine William.” ‎ ‎The song opens with a recording of a phone conversation between West and Diddy, which sets the emotional tone of the track. In the conversation, a voice believed to be Diddy expresses gratitude to West for looking a...
Read more

Korean star, Kim Sae-ron of 'A Brand New Life' and 'The Man From Nowhere,' dies at 24

Image
South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron, known for her compelling performances from a young age, was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on Sunday. She was 24. ' Kim Sae-ron. ' Imazins via Getty Images According to Reuters, Kim's body was discovered by a friend after she failed to arrive for an arranged meeting. Authorities discovered no evidence of foul play and are examining the circumstances surrounding her death. Kim was born in Seoul in 2000 and began her acting career when she was nine years old. She achieved international attention for her appearance in "A Brand New Life" (2009), which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, making her one of the youngest performers to be accepted. Her performance in "The Man From Nowhere" (2010) reinforced her standing as a rising star in Korean cinema. The actor seamlessly shifted from kid parts to more sophisticated characters. Notable performances include "A Girl at My Door" (2014) and ...
Read more

Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt's engagement to Sean Hannity: Everything we know

Image
Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt, Fox News anchors, confirmed their engagement after dating privately for several years, becoming the latest Fox News couple to take their romance to the next level. According to an official statement from the network, the two got engaged at their local church over Christmas, with the permission and support of their families, including their children from previous marriages. ' Ainsley Earhardt. ' Getty Images Hannity, 62, and Earhardt, 48, are well-known conservative pundits due to their long careers on Fox News. Hannity runs his own evening show, Hannity, while Earhardt co-hosts the morning show Fox & Friends. Earhardt joined the network in 2007 to lead the overnight newscast. Hannity had been with Fox News for 11 years before she came. ' Sean Hannity ' and ' Ainsley Earhardt. ' Getty Images Soon after joining Fox, Earhardt began anchoring her own Hannity program, "Ainsley Across America." A...
Read more

Jenna Ortega confirms 'Scream' exit was tied to Melissa Barrera firing, not scheduling

Image
‎In a candid interview with The Cut, Jenna Ortega clarified the long-speculated reason behind her departure from the Scream franchise, confirming it was not due to scheduling conflicts as previously reported, but rather her disillusionment with how the production handled the firing of co-star Melissa Barrera. ' Jenna Ortega. ' Getty Images ‎ ‎Ortega, who played Tara Carpenter in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI, exited the franchise in November 2023—just one day after Barrera was dismissed over her pro-Palestinian social media posts. At the time, Ortega cited a "shooting schedule" conflict. However, she now admits that was not the truth. ‎ ‎“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling,” Ortega told The Cut. “The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. If ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time.” ‎ ‎B...
Read more

'Diabetes Mellitus!' — ‎Michelle Trachtenberg's cause of death officially confirmed by NYC Medical Examiner

Image
‎The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has officially confirmed the cause of actress Michelle Trachtenberg’s sudden death. The 39-year-old, known for her breakout role in Harriet the Spy and standout performances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, died from complications of diabetes mellitus, People reports. Her death has been deemed natural. ‎ ‎' Michelle Trachtenberg. ' ‎Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium ‎ ‎Initially, Trachtenberg’s cause of death was listed as “undetermined” on February 27 due to her family’s objection to an autopsy, according to the New York Post. However, further medical evaluation has now clarified the circumstances surrounding her passing. ‎ ‎Trachtenberg’s death, first confirmed on February 26 by Us Weekly, was not considered suspicious by authorities at the time. Police sources indicated no foul play was involved. ‎ ‎In the months leading up to her death, Trachtenberg had responded publicly to specu...
Read more

New wildfire erupts near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, evacuation orders partially lifted

Image
A new wildfire has broken out in West Hills, California, near residences in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas. The Kenneth Fire broke out near the west end of Victory Boulevard around 2:30 p.m. and had destroyed nearly 800 acres of brush as of 5 p.m., fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds. Traffic backs up in Calabasas, California , as residents evacuate ahead of the Kenneth Fire on January 9 , 2025. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Mandatory evacuation orders were initially issued for the districts surrounding Vanowen Street south to Burbank Boulevard and County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but they were downgraded to an evacuation warning shortly before 5:15 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. "The challenging terrain and persistent winds complicate suppression activities, necessitating heightened vigilance from residents and adherence to directives from local authorities," the incident commanders reported in a message. Hidden Hills,...
Read more

'Daredevil: Born Again' review: Is the return of Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk worth the wait?

Image
In Daredevil: Born Again, the iconic archnemeses Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) face off once again, each claiming they’ve changed. Matt, struggling with a tragic past, swears he’s done with his vigilante life, while Wilson, now a mayoral candidate in New York City, insists he has left behind his criminal empire. Charlie Cox in ' Daredevil: Born Again. ' Giovanni Rufino/Marvel However, neither character truly believes the other, and neither do we. The core of this show relies on the inevitable return of these characters to their familiar roles. If Matt and Wilson ever completely transformed, there would be no story to tell. This sense of familiarity brings both comfort and constraint. Daredevil: Born Again largely sticks to the same formula that worked in the original Netflix series, which can be satisfying, but it also risks feeling stagnant. Despite having new leadership — with Dario Scardapane serving as showrunner and Matt Corman...
Read more