First on FOX — Dozens of former Justice Department officials sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday asking for confirmation of Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general later this month. He praised her commitment and commitment to the rule of law. They said her track record as a former Florida attorney general makes her well-suited for the role.
The letter, previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital, includes more than 110 people who served under Democratic and Republican administrations, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr and Edwin Meese. It was signed by senior Justice Department officials.
Other notable signatories include former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Deputy Attorneys General Rod Rosenstein and Jeffrey Rosen, and Randy Grossman, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California under the Biden administration. are.
Justice Department alumni expressed “strong and enthusiastic support” for Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who also spent 18 years as a prosecutor in the Hillsborough County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“It is all too rare for a senior Justice Department official, much less an attorney general, to have such extensive experience in the day-to-day work of keeping our communities safe,” they wrote.
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Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a press conference outside Trump’s hush money trial in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty)
“As a career prosecutor, Attorney General Bondi will fight on behalf of the American people to reduce crime, tackle the opioid crisis, support women and men in blue, and restore trust in the Department of Justice from day one on the job. We will be ready ‘on the side of justice,”’ they wrote in a letter to Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Iowa).
The letter praised Bondi’s work as Florida’s attorney general in leading an aggressive crackdown on opioid drugs and the many “pharmacies” operating in the state when he took office. They also praised what they described as Bondi’s “national reputation” for his work to combat human trafficking and prosecute violent crimes in the state.
Officials also highlighted Mr. Bondi’s other accomplishments in Florida, where he secured consumer protection victories and economic relief on behalf of residents of the Sunshine State. Her work leading the national mortgage settlement after the 2008 financial crisis resulted in $56 billion in compensation for victims, the letter said. Bondi’s lawsuit against BP and other companies responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in a $2 billion settlement. In economic relief.
The letter also emphasized Ms. Bondi’s commitment to the rule of law and what former officials touted as her track record of working across the aisle during her more than 20 years as a prosecutor.
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Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives to speak at the Republican National Convention at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 in Washington, DC, USA. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Some of us have worked directly with Attorney General Bondi during her tenure and can personally attest to her integrity and dedication to the rule of law,” they wrote. “More of us know and admire the reputation she earned for her long and proven career in Florida government, her litigation and advocacy on the national stage, and the courage she displayed as an attorney. ”
“As former Justice Department officials, we know firsthand the challenges she will face as attorney general, and we also know that she is deeply committed to the job.”
Those close to Ms. Bondi have praised her long career as a prosecutor and her strong loyalty to the president-elect, with whom she has worked since 2020, starting with her role in his first impeachment trial. agent, most recently in her role in Mr. Bondi’s post. Co-chair of the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a think tank founded by former staffers of President Trump.
She also served on the Opioid and Substance Abuse Commission during President Trump’s first term.
Bondi’s former colleagues told Fox News Digital that they expect him to bring the same strategy to Washington that he used in Florida. This time, the aim is to crack down on cartels involved in drug trafficking, illegal use of fentanyl, and cross-border drug smuggling. .
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“We strongly believe that the Department of Justice and the public will benefit from Attorney General Bondi’s leadership,” Justice Department officials concluded, adding, “We will use the strongest means possible to ensure that she is the next attorney general of the United States.” We strongly urge you to approve it as such.” ”
Brianne Depiche is a political reporter for FOX News Digital, covering the 2024 election and other national news.
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