Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and a prominent ally of Donald Trump, has been removed from her position at the US Justice Department amid mounting scrutiny over potential ethical conflicts.
Bondi, who was appointed to a role in the DOJ's Office for Victims of Crime earlier this year, faced criticism due to her previous lobbying activities. Critics argued that her past work for corporate interests, including a controversial $25,000 donation from Trump's foundation during her tenure as AG, created a clear conflict.
Ethics Violations Spark Backlash
The decision to dismiss Bondi followed an internal review prompted by ethics watchdogs. Reports suggest that her involvement with lobbying firms representing clients with business before the Justice Department raised red flags.
"This was a necessary step to maintain public trust," said a DOJ insider. "The department must uphold the highest ethical standards."
A Controversial Career
Bondi's career has been marked by controversy. As Florida's AG, she declined to join a lawsuit against Trump University despite receiving the hefty donation from the then-presidential candidate. She later joined the Trump administration's impeachment defense team in 2020.
Her abrupt removal from the DOJ role underscores the Biden administration's pledge to distance itself from Trump-era appointees entangled in ethical grey areas.
