History of Pam Bondi in Timeline
Pam Bondi is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician currently serving as the United States Attorney General since 2025. As a member of the Republican Party, she previously held the position of Florida Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, making her the first woman to be elected to that office. Her career has spanned law, politics, and lobbying, marking her presence in various influential roles.
November 17, 1965: Pam Bondi Born
Pam Bondi was born on November 17, 1965. She would later become a prominent attorney and politician.
1987: Received Bachelor's Degree
In 1987, Pam Bondi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in criminal justice from the University of Florida and was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
1990: Marriage to Garret Barnes
In 1990, Pam Bondi married Garret Barnes.
1990: Received Juris Doctor
In 1990, Pam Bondi obtained a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law, furthering her legal education.
June 24, 1991: Admitted to Florida Bar
Pam Bondi was admitted to the Florida Bar on June 24, 1991, marking the official start of her legal career.
1996: Marriage to Scott Fitzgerald
In 1996, Pam Bondi married Scott Fitzgerald.
2002: Divorce from Scott Fitzgerald
In 2002, Pam Bondi divorced Scott Fitzgerald.
2006: Prosecuted Dwight Gooden
In 2006, Pam Bondi prosecuted former Major League Baseball player Dwight Gooden for violating probation and substance abuse as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, Florida.
2007: Prosecuted Defendants in Martin Anderson's Death
In 2007, Pam Bondi prosecuted the defendants involved in Martin Anderson's death while working as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, Florida.
2008: Defended Amendment 2
In 2008, Bondi defended Amendment 2, a ban on same-sex marriage in Florida, against legal challenges.
August 2010: Lead in Republican primary
In August 2010, polling showed Pam Bondi leading in the Republican primary for Florida Attorney General.
2010: Association with Scientology
Beginning in 2010, Pam Bondi's association with Scientology and the fundraisers organized by wealthy Scientologists for her political campaigns provoked controversy.
2010: Campaign for Attorney General
In 2010, Pam Bondi ran for Florida Attorney General, receiving support from Sarah Palin and gaining media attention for her appearances on Fox News.
2011: Resignation of Attorneys Investigating Lender Processing Services
In 2011, Pam Bondi pressured two attorneys investigating Lender Processing Services to resign, later receiving campaign contributions from the company, raising concerns of a potential quid pro quo.
2012: Engagement to Greg Henderson
In 2012, Pam Bondi was engaged to Greg Henderson.
August 2013: Email about donation
In August 2013, an email from Pam Bondi's campaign finance director to Trump's assistant acknowledged the $25,000 donation was for a PAC, contradicting claims it was meant for a Kansas non-profit.
2013: Postponed Execution for Fundraiser
In 2013, Pam Bondi faced criticism after persuading Governor Rick Scott to postpone a scheduled execution to avoid conflicting with a fundraising event, for which she later apologized.
2013: Campaign Donation from Donald Trump
In 2013, Pam Bondi received a $25,000 campaign donation from Donald Trump's foundation after her office considered joining a lawsuit against Trump University, raising ethical questions.
November 2014: Re-elected as Attorney General
In November 2014, Pam Bondi was re-elected as Florida's Attorney General, securing 55% of the vote against George Sheldon.
March 14, 2016: Endorsed Donald Trump
On March 14, 2016, Pam Bondi endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 Florida Republican presidential primary.
June 2016: Criticism over LGBT support
In June 2016, Pam Bondi faced criticism from CNN's Anderson Cooper, who questioned the sincerity of her support for the LGBT community following the Orlando nightclub shooting, given her past defense of the same-sex marriage ban.
June 2016: Ethics commission investigation
In June 2016, Pam Bondi faced renewed criticism over the donation from Donald Trump, and a spokesperson for Governor Rick Scott stated that the state's ethics commission was looking into the matter.
September 2016: IRS Determination of Illegal Contribution
In September 2016, the IRS determined that Trump's donation to Pam Bondi's PAC was an illegal political contribution from a nonprofit organization, leading to fines for Trump.
2016: Speech at Republican National Convention
In 2016, Pam Bondi delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention, leading "lock her up" chants directed at Hillary Clinton.
2017: Lobbying for KGL KSCC
In 2017, as a partner at Ballard Partners, Pam Bondi became a lobbyist for KGL KSCC, a company incorporated in Kuwait, regarding potential Global Magnitsky Act violations and imprisonment issues.
2017: Relationship with John Wakefield
Since 2017, Pam Bondi has been in a relationship with John Wakefield.
2018: Meetings with Lev Parnas
In 2018, Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, had meetings with Bondi while she was the Florida attorney general.
2018: Lawsuit Against the ACA
In 2018, Pam Bondi joined 19 other Republican-led states in a lawsuit aimed at overturning the Affordable Care Act's protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
November 2019: Hired to Assist with Impeachment Inquiry
In November 2019, Pam Bondi was hired by the Trump administration to help the White House during Trump's first impeachment proceedings, focusing on "attacking the process" of the inquiry.
November 2019: Trump ordered to close foundation
In November 2019, Trump was ordered by a New York court to close down his foundation and pay damages for misusing it, including the illegal donation made to Pam Bondi.
2019: Meetings with Lev Parnas
In 2019, Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, had meetings with Bondi after she left office.
January 17, 2020: Named to Trump's Impeachment Defense Team
On January 17, 2020, Pam Bondi was named as part of President Trump's defense team for his Senate impeachment trial, playing a key role in his defense.
November 5, 2020: Fox News Appearance on voter fraud claims
On November 5, 2020, Pam Bondi appeared on Fox News where she was challenged to provide evidence for her claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, but refused to do so.
2020: Supported Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election
In 2020, Bondi spoke in support of Trump at the Republican National Convention and became a vocal supporter of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, alleging voter fraud.
2020: Defense Lawyer for Trump's Impeachment
In 2020, Bondi was part of President Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial and became a vocal supporter of his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, claiming voter fraud.
November 21, 2024: Nomination for Attorney General
On November 21, 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Pam Bondi for the position of United States Attorney General.
November 21, 2024: Nominated for United States Attorney General
On November 21, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that Pam Bondi would be nominated for United States Attorney General.
2024: Leading the legal arm of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute
By 2024, Bondi led the legal arm of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute, working on voting lawsuits in battleground states related to the 2024 presidential election.
January 15, 2025: U.S. Senate Committee Hearing
On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing to question Pam Bondi on why she failed to report The GEO Group and Qatar projects as potential conflicts of interest.
February 4, 2025: Confirmed as Attorney General
On February 4, 2025, Pam Bondi was confirmed as the United States Attorney General, marking a significant milestone in her career.
February 5, 2025: Bondi Sworn into Office
On February 5, 2025, Clarence Thomas swore Pam Bondi into office as the 87th attorney general. On her first day, Bondi issued orders directing the investigation of Jack Smith, prioritizing assistance with President Trump's deportation plan, and reevaluating consent decrees, among other actions.
