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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: T24 1231 Pam Bondi as AG Presutti
HEADLINE: Former Florida lead law enforcer nominated to head nation’s police
TEASER: Pam Bondi to face questions over lobbying; closeness to Trump
PUBLISHED AT: 12/18/2024 HFR
BYLINE: Carolyn Presutti
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Page, DLJ, djones approved
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original, AP, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __X
TRT: 2:35
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [President-elect Donald Trump is choosing some of his strongest supporters to be members of his Cabinet. However, his selection for the nation’s top law enforcer may face some tough questions over ethics and lobbying. VOA’s Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti introduces us to Pam Bondi.]
((NARRATOR))
((Nat sound of Bondi))
“Prior to being the attorney general of Florida, I was a career prosecutor for 18 years.”
((NARRATOR))
Pam Bondi is best known as the first female attorney general of Florida, the home state of Mar-a-Lago, which is the home of President-elect Donald Trump.
Here’s what Bondi told VOA in 2012 when she was first elected.
((August 2012))
((Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General))
“All I want to be is attorney general, that's it. That's what I'm focused on. I'm very determined, I'm driven, I'm a prosecutor.”
((NARRATOR))
Bondi spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016 when Donald Trump was the party’s presidential nominee, three months before he first won the presidency.
((August 2016))
NATS: Bondi: “I know Donald and I’m proud to know Donald.”
((nat of her))
((2020))
NATS: Bondi: “Our votes are being suppressed.”
A staunch loyalist, Bondi supported the false notion that Trump won the 2020 election. She was also on Trump's legal team during his first impeachment trial.
((Mandatory CG: C-SPAN))
NATS: “Joe Biden was the point man for Ukraine.” ((end courtesy))
((NARRATOR))
Along with other Republicans, Bondi spoke in support of the president-elect at his hush money trial in New York when he was found guilty of 34 felony counts.
NATS: “Hi, everyone. Great meeting, I look forward to seeing Senator Graham.”
((NARRATOR))
In early December, Bondi visited Capitol Hill, lobbying legislators in advance of her Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general.
[[RADIO TRACK: Including Senator John Cornyn of Texas.]]
((Sen. John Cornyn, Republican))
“I want to make sure that we restore the reputation of these agencies, these departments like the FBI and the Department of Justice and the intelligence community, that we restore their reputation as nonpolitical institutions.”
((NARRATOR))
Analysts say her lack of independence from the White House is a valid matter of concern.
[[RADIO TRACK: James Sample teaches law at Hofstra University, and Claire Finkelstein is faculty director of the center for ethics and the rule of law at the University of Pennsylvania.]]
((James Sample, Hofstra University))
“There will be times, I think it is an absolute certainty given the degree to which Mr. Trump is trying to push the envelope on so many legal fronts, where fidelity to law and fidelity to Trump will be in tension, and that is going to be a crucible for Pam Bondi to deal with.”
((Claire Finkelstein, University of Pennsylvania)) ((Zoom))
“One of her conflicts is that in 2013 her office decided not to formally investigate fraud claims regarding Trump University."
((NARRATOR))
But the Florida ethics commission found no violation on her part.
((Trump at rally)) ((2020))
((Donald Trump, 45th President))
“Somebody who has always been there, former Florida attorney general… she could have anything she wanted by the way”
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory Courtesy: BALLARDPARTNERS.COM))
Bondi is currently with Ballard Partners, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm. Analysts say senators will also ask about her high-profile clients who could be plaintiffs before her as attorney general.
Carolyn Presutti, VOA News, Washington.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 31, 2024 08:58 EST
BylineCarolyn Presutti
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
