Pam Bondi sworn in as attorney general as department of justice braces for change

Pam Bondi was sworn in as US attorney general on Wednesday as President Donald Trump seeks to impose his will on an institution that has infuriated him for so long.

The ceremony marked the republican President’s first time taking part in the swearing-in of a cabinet member during a second term. This further highlighted Trump’s deep personal involvement in the workings of the department that investigated him during his first term and later filed two indictments, which were ultimately dropped, after he left office in 2021.

Trump commended Bondi's record as a prosecutor and declared that she would bring back "fair, equal, and impartial justice at the department" before supreme court justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office.

Calling her the "nation’s next incredible attorney general," Trump praised Pam Bondi's impressive career. He said on Truth Social, “Pam was a career prosecutor for nearly 20 years and was one of the toughest, smartest, best, and most successful attorney generals in the history of Florida—and I think she's going to end up going down as one of the most successful attorney generals this country has ever had.”

Bondi assured the president “I will make you proud and I will make this country proud.” “I will restore integrity to the justice department and I will fight violent crime throughout this country and throughout this world, and make America safe again,” she added.

The senate confirmed Bondi, Florida's first female attorney general before becoming a lobbyist, with a 54-46 vote on Tuesday, largely along party lines.

Republicans believe that Bondi will bring much-needed reform to a department that they feel wrongfully investigated Trump and abused his supporters who were charged with the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident.

Bondi’s responsibilities as an attorney general include overseeing the FBI, which is currently facing scrutiny over agents involved in Trump-related investigations.