Pam Bondi
Pam Bondi | |
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37th Florida Attorney General | |
In office January 4, 2011 – January 8, 2019 | |
Governor | Rick Scott |
Preceded by | Bill McCollum |
Succeeded by | Ashley Moody |
Personal details | |
Born | Pamela Jo Bondi November 17, 1965 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
Political party | Republican (2000-present) Democratic (before 2000)[citation needed] |
Spouses | Garret Barnes
(m. 1990; div. 1992)Scott Fitzgerald
(m. 1996; div. 2002) |
Education | University of Florida (BA) Stetson University (JD) |
Pamela Jo Bondi (born November 17, 1965) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician. A
In 2020, Bondi was one of longtime ally President Donald Trump's defense lawyers during his first impeachment trial.
Early life and education
Bondi's hometown is
Early career
Bondi acted as a
Bondi prosecuted former
Attorney General of Florida
2010 election
Bondi ran for Florida Attorney General in the 2010 election, facing off against former state representative Holly Benson and lieutenant governor Jeff Kottkamp in the Republican primary. In a competitive field, Bondi notably received the support of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin. The Palm Beach Post credited her surge in support in the primary to her media-savviness, including regular appearances on Fox News and her public association with Sean Hannity.
Polling conducted by Mason Dixon in August 2010 found her leading both Benson and Kottkamp in the primary. She ultimately won the primary with 37.89% of the vote.[7] In the general election, she faced Democratic nominee Dan Gelber, a former prosecutor who spent 10 years in the state legislature.[8] She ultimately comfortably defeated Gelber to become the state's first female Attorney General.[9][10]
Tenure
Bondi was the lead attorney general in an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking to overturn the
In 2018, Bondi joined with 19 other Republican-led states in a lawsuit to overturn the ACA's bans on health insurance companies charging people with pre-existing conditions higher premiums or denying them coverage outright.[12]
Bondi opposed
In August 2018, while still serving as Florida Attorney General, Bondi co-hosted The Five on Fox News three days in a row while also appearing on Sean Hannity's Fox News show.[16] Fox News claimed that the Florida Commission on Ethics had approved Bondi's appearance on the program; however, spokeswoman for the commission denied that, telling the Tampa Bay Times that no decision was made by the commission and that the commission's general counsel did not make a determination whether or not Bondi's appearance as a host violated the Florida Code of Ethics. The Tampa Bay Times described it as "unprecedented" for a sitting elected official to host a TV show.[16]
Bondi was re-elected in November 2014, receiving 55% of the vote. Her Democratic challenger George Sheldon, the former acting commissioner of the Administration for Children and Families, received 42%.[17]
Fundraising controversies
In 2013, Bondi persuaded Governor Rick Scott to postpone a scheduled execution because it conflicted with a fundraising event.[18] After questions were raised in the media, Bondi apologized for moving the execution date.[19][20]
Beginning in 2010, Bondi's association with Scientology and the multiple fundraisers that wealthy Scientologists have organized for Bondi's political campaigns have provoked controversy.[21] Bondi has justified those contacts and her speeches before leading Scientologists by arguing that the group wishes to help her crack down on human trafficking.[22][23]
In 2011, Bondi also pressured two attorneys to resign who were investigating
In 2013, Bondi also received criticism following a campaign donation from
In 2016, after Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service regarding the 2013 Trump donation, the Trump Foundation stated that the donation had been made in error. It said that the Foundation had intended for the donation to go not to Bondi's PAC, but instead to an unrelated Kansas non-profit called Justice for All.[30][31] However, in June 2016, as Bondi was facing renewed criticism over the Trump donation and her decision not to join the lawsuit, her spokesman said that Bondi had solicited the donation directly from Trump several weeks before her office announced it was considering joining the lawsuit against him.[27][32] On March 14, 2016, Bondi endorsed Trump in the 2016 Florida Republican presidential primary, saying she has been friends with Trump for many years.[33][34] In June 2016, a spokesperson for Governor Rick Scott stated that the state's ethics commission is looking into the matter, though nothing further came from the investigation.[35]
In September 2016, the IRS determined that the donation to Bondi's PAC violated laws against political contributions from nonprofit organizations, and ordered Trump to pay a fine for the contribution. Trump also was required to reimburse the foundation for the sum that had been donated to Bondi.[36] Neither Bondi nor her PAC were fined or criminally charged. In November 2019, Trump was ordered by a New York state court to close down the foundation and pay $2 million in damages for misusing it, including the illegal donation to Bondi.[37]
In 2021, The Daily Beast reported that it obtained records relating to Trump's illegal donation to Bondi, which show that Trump's organization knew that the money was being given to a PAC in Florida rather than a Kansas non-profit. The records include an email in August 2013 from Bondi's campaign finance director Deborah Ramsey Aleksander to Trump's executive assistant, Rhona Graff, identifying the PAC as an Electioneering Communications Organization and thanking Graff for meeting with her, for the promised $25,000 donation, and "for always being so responsive and wonderful to work with". A spokesperson for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called these documents "a smoking gun" that destroys the story that Trump and Bondi had concocted to excuse the donation.[38]
Association with Donald Trump
Trump–Ukraine scandal |
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Events |
People |
Companies |
Conspiracy theories |
In 2016, Bondi gave a speech at the
During the course of the impeachment trial, Bondi made debunked
Bondi spoke in support of Trump at the
In an appearance on Fox News on November 5, 2020, host Steve Doocy challenged Bondi to provide evidence for her claims of fraud, to which she refused.[56] Bondi later claimed that Trump had won Pennsylvania, despite votes there still being counted, with his opponent Joe Biden ultimately winning the state.[55]
During the following
Personal life
Bondi married Garret Barnes in 1990; the couple divorced after 22 months of marriage. In 1996, Bondi married Scott Fitzgerald; they divorced in 2002. She was engaged to Greg Henderson in 2012.[59] She is a member of the Junior League.[citation needed]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Pam Bondi | 459,022 | 37.89% | N/A | |
Republican | Jeff Kottkamp | 397,781 | 32.84% | N/A | |
Republican | Holly Benson | 354,573 | 29.27% | N/A | |
Majority | 61,241 | 5.05% | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,211,376 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Pam Bondi | 2,882,868 | 54.77% | +2.08% | |
Democratic | Dan Gelber | 2,181,377 | 41.44% | -5.87% | |
Independent
|
Jim Lewis | 199,147 | 3.78% | N/A | |
Majority | 701,491 | 13.33% | +7.95% | ||
Turnout | 5,263,392 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Pam Bondi | 3,222,524 | 55.09% | +0.32% | |
Democratic | George Sheldon | 2,457,357 | 42.01% | +0.57% | |
Libertarian | Bill Wohlsifer | 169,394 | 2.90% | N/A | |
Majority | 765,207 | 13.08% | -0.25% | ||
Turnout | 5,849,235 |
See also
- Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump
- List of female state attorneys general in the United States
References
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- ^ "Lawyer info-Pam Bondi" Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Florida Bar, Find a Lawyer
- ^ Kam, Dara. "Early on, Florida attorney general Pam Bondi shows ambition". Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on November 25, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ "Dwight Gooden chooses prison over rehab". Red Orbit. April 5, 2006. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Attorney General Pam Bondi juggles home life, sudden celebrity". Orlando Sentinel. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Martin Lee Anderson Death Case Goes to Trial Wednesday". WJHG. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "August 24, 2010 Primary Election, Republican Primary: Attorney General". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "Prosecutor Pam Bondi holds narrow lead over legislator Dan Gelber in AG race". Orlando Sentinel. October 25, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Kelli (November 3, 2010). "Former Prosecutor Bondi Has Comfortable Win Over Gelber". The Ledger. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "November 2, 2010 General Election". Doe.dos.state.fl.us. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Bolstad, Erika (March 28, 2012). "Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi front and center in fight against health care law". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Leary, Alex. "Pre-existing conditions latest flashpoint in Nelson-Scott battle". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Wilstein, Matt (June 15, 2016). "Anderson Cooper: Florida AG Pam Bondi Either 'Mistaken or Not Telling the Truth'". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Peters, Jeremy W.; Alvarez, Lizette (June 15, 2016). "After Orlando, a Political Divide on Gay Rights Still Stands". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ^ Ducassi, Daniel; Caputo, Marc (June 14, 2016). "Bondi says she's not being hypocritical toward LGBT community". Politico. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ^ a b Contorno, Steve. "Is Pam Bondi auditioning for Fox News while still working for Florida taxpayers?". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ Staff (November 5, 2014). "2014 Florida election results: Rick Scott wins, medical marijuana falls short". Orlando Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ Smith, Adam C. (September 9, 2013). "Execution rescheduled to accommodate Pam Bondi fundraiser". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ Rosica, James L. (September 25, 2016). "Bondi apologizes for having execution moved". Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on September 12, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ "Attorney General Pam Bondi apologizes for delaying execution: Pam Bondi delayed an execution to go to a campaign fundraiser". Associated Press. September 24, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ Auslen, Michael (September 6, 2016). "Pam Bondi to speak before group with ties to Scientology". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Childs, Joe (June 30, 2014). "Pam Bondi's Clearwater fundraiser organized by Scientologists". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Bleyer, Jim (October 6, 2016). "Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, and the Church of Scientology". Tampa Bay Beat. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ "Political notebook: Pam Bondi under fire after LPS-related resignations". Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ "Trump contribution to Pam Bondi's re-election draws more scrutiny to her fundraising". Tampa Bay Times. October 17, 2013. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ "Trump's $25K to A.G. Bondi merits probe". Orlando Sentinel. April 2, 2016. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ a b "Trump contribution to Pam Bondi's re-election draws more scrutiny to her fundraising". Tampa Bay Times. October 17, 2013. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ "Trump camp says $25,000 charity contribution to Florida AG was a mistake". Washington Post. March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ Bookbinder, Noah (May 17, 2016). "Column: The Trump tax filings we've seen highlight the need to see more". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "CREW files complaint against Trump Foundation". CREW. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "Florida AG Personally Asked For Donation Before Declining Lawsuit Against Trump University". Brevard Times. June 7, 2016. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ Horwitz, Jeff; Fineout, Gary; Biesecker, Michael (June 6, 2016). "Florida AG asked Trump for donation before nixing fraud case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- ^ "Old questions resurface as Attorney General Pam Bondi endorses Trump". Miami Herald. March 14, 2016. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ "Trump University model: Sell hard, demand to see a warrant". Associated Press. June 2, 2016. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Gov. Rick Scott: Calls To Investigate Bondi Are Partisan Politics - Local News - 90.7 WMFE". Wmfe.org. June 10, 2016. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- Washington Post. Archivedfrom the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- Washington Post. Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ "The Real Story Behind the $25,000 Trump Donation to Pam Bondi". The Daily Beast. August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ Lavender, Paige (July 20, 2016). "Florida Attorney General To Anti-Clinton RNC Crowd: 'Lock Her Up'". HuffPost. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Benen, Steve (November 7, 2019). "Despite earlier controversy, Pam Bondi joining Team Trump". MSNBC. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Ianelli, Jerry (November 6, 2019). "Ex-Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to Reportedly Join Trump White House". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Friedman, Dan (November 6, 2019). "Donald Trump, Pam Bondi dives into the Swamp". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ Rogers, Katie (December 11, 2019). "Movie Nights, Camp David and Cable Messaging: A White House Impeachment Playbook". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- ^ "Former Florida AG Pam Bondi named to Trump's impeachment defense team". News 4 JAX. News Service of Florida. January 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ Collins, Sean (September 23, 2019). "The facts behind Trump's bogus accusations about Biden and Ukraine". Vox. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "Trump's team dismisses the case for impeachment as weak — and then sloppily attacks Joe Biden". Washington Post. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "Picture of Pam Bondi and Lev Parnas emerges after she joins Trump impeachment defense". Tampa Bay Times. January 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Two business associates of Trump's personal attorney Giuliani have been arrested on campaign finance charges". Washington Post. October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "Donald Trump and Lev Parnas discussed Rick Scott in secret recording". Tampa Bay Times. January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis won't talk about texts with donor indicted for foreign influence of U.S. elections". Orlando Weekly. January 14, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "Lev Parnas Paid His Way Into Donald Trump's Orbit". Tampa Bay Times. January 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "Trump campaign unveils convention speakers, POTUS to speak every night". Fox News. August 23, 2020. Archived from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Kirby (August 25, 2020). "Pam Bondi, at RNC: Joe Biden only in politics to enrich his family". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "Pam Bondi Hypes 'Fake Ballots,' 'Evidence of Cheating' in Pennsylvania Vote". Mediaite. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "Pam Bondi throws herself into Trump effort to stop counting votes". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ Solender, Andrew. "Pam Bondi, Hope Hicks Among Latest Trump Loyalists Given Prestigious Government Board Positions". Forbes. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ Stapleton, Christine. "Trump rewards ex-Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi with prestigious board seat". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Tia (May 30, 2012). "Attorney General Pam Bondi's Cayman trip wasn't a wedding; many wonder why". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
- Florida Department of State. Archivedfrom the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- Florida Department of State. Archivedfrom the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- Florida Department of State. Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Pam Bondi for Attorney General (Campaign website - not found on 1/31/2019)
- Appearances on C-SPAN