Trump taps Pam Bondi for attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration

• Trump nominated Pam Bondi for attorney general on Thursday
• Trump said he wants to refocus the Department of Justice on crime and safety.
• Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the role earlier on Thursday.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday he would nominate Pam Bondi, former attorney general of Florida, for attorney general after his first pick withdrew from consideration.

“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social announcing the nomination. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”

Trump chose Bondi, a longtime Trump ally who served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, after former congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the role earlier on Thursday.

Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comments from Business Insider.

This story is breaking. Check back for updates.