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U.S. Senate confirms Florida’s Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general • Florida Phoenix
U.S. Senate confirms Florida’s Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general
by Ashley Murray, Florida Phoenix
February 4, 2025
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Tuesday night confirmed Florida prosecutor Pam Bondi as the attorney general of the United States under President Donald Trump.
Senators voted 54-46 to install the former Florida attorney general at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, an agency Trump has in his crosshairs after federal prosecutions targeted his actions following his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted in favor of Bondi’s confirmation.
Bondi easily gained the support of the Republican-led Senate Committee on the Judiciary, which put her on a glide path to confirmation. The panel split along party lines Wednesday to advance her to a full floor vote.
Grassley support
“I’m disappointed that none of my Democratic colleagues on the Judiciary Committee voted for Ms. Bondi, and I hope the full Senate takes a different approach,” Committee Chair Chuck Grassley of Iowa said on the floor Monday.
“If my colleagues won’t cross the aisle for this qualified nominee, they’ll show that they’re intent on opposing President Trump’s picks for purely partisan reasons,” Grassley said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday that Americans have “lost faith” in the Justice Department.
“Pam Bondi has promised to get the department back to its core mission: prosecuting crime and protecting Americans from threats to their safety and their freedoms,” the South Dakota Republican said Tuesday afternoon on the floor, accusing the department of political bias under former President Joe Biden.
‘Real concern’ from Whitehouse
Democrats spoke out against Bondi ahead of the confirmation vote, highlighting Bondi’s indirect response to Democratic committee members’ questions over who won the 2020 election.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that Bondi’s responses during her confirmation hearing were cause for “real concern.”
“She said a lot of the right things about independence of the department and rule of law. What I couldn’t get over was how things changed when she got to a topic that would have been sensitive to Donald Trump, something that would have gotten Donald Trump all twitchy,” Whitehouse said on the floor.
“She couldn’t say obvious things, things like,’ Did President Biden win the 2020 election?’ That’s an easy answer, ‘Yes, he did, sir or ma’am.’ Super simple. When she can’t say that, that’s a sign,” Whitehouse continued.
The former president faced charges for scheming to overturn the 2020 election results and for hoarding classified documents in his Florida estate. The Justice Department dropped the cases after Trump won the election, citing a long-term policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents.
Trump’s interim U.S. attorney in Florida’s Southern District last week dropped the classified documents case against Trump’s two co-defendants.
Trump has fired a round of Justice Department officials who were involved in prosecuting him as well as those involved in prosecutions of those charged after the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
On his first night in office, Trump granted clemency to all of the nearly 1,600 defendants charged in the attack.
Last updated 9:03 p.m., Feb. 4, 2025
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
News from the South - Florida News Feed
Orlando restaurant owner invites artists to parking lot amid federal fight against street art
SUMMARY: In response to Florida’s decision to paint over street art on public roads, including the rainbow crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub, Orlando’s Se7en Bites restaurant owner Trina Gregory is opening 49 parking spaces for local artists to create vibrant artworks. The event, “Parking Spaces for Pride,” will take place Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 617 N Primrose Drive. It aims to transform controversy into a community celebration that uplifts Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community, preserving the city’s love for art. Gregory intends to make this an annual event promoting creativity, diversity, and resilience amidst the state’s restrictions on non-uniform traffic markings.
The post Orlando restaurant owner invites artists to parking lot amid federal fight against street art appeared first on www.clickorlando.com
News from the South - Florida News Feed
Community honors life of 10-year-old Harper Moyski, killed in shooting at Minneapolis church
SUMMARY: In Minneapolis, friends and family gathered to honor 10-year-old Harper Moyski, killed in a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. Harper, remembered as fierce, curious, and unapologetically herself, was one of two children killed alongside 21 injured when a former student opened fire during Mass. Her mother, Jackie Flavin, described Harper as “extra in the very best way,” loving dogs and aspiring to be a veterinarian. Speakers at the outdoor memorial called for an end to gun violence, especially in schools. Rabbi Jason Rodich urged kindness amid societal division, encouraging people to support one another “for Harper.”
Read the full article
The post Community honors life of 10-year-old Harper Moyski, killed in shooting at Minneapolis church appeared first on www.news4jax.com
News from the South - Florida News Feed
A look at recent flooding across South Florida
SUMMARY: South Florida is still recovering from a week of severe flooding that made roads nearly impassable, stalled cars, and forced people to wade through water. In Hollywood, upgraded flood pumps and drainage systems helped subside water levels quickly, preventing damage to homes. However, in North Miami, residents along 141st Street report ongoing issues with backed-up drains and street flooding, which disrupt daily life, including doctor visits. The city claims the flooding is due to long tides rather than clogged drains and asserts the area has been checked. Concerns remain about the area’s vulnerability without further drainage maintenance.
Parts of South Florida are still drying out from the deluge of rain storms last week.
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