“Rigging the system”: Pam Bondi consistently sided with corporations that gave money to Republicans

Key Takeaways:

• Pam Bondi allegedly dropped lawsuits against companies following significant donations to Republican groups supporting her.
• Her office took industry-friendly positions aligning with the interests of major donors in firearms and environmental cases.
• A controversial donation from the Trump Foundation coincided with her office declining to investigate Trump University.
• Lobbyists representing companies under scrutiny may have influenced her decisions as Attorney General.
• These allegations raise concerns as Bondi seeks confirmation as the U.S. Attorney General.

Allegations Shadow Pam Bondi’s Path to Justice Department

As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi prepares for her Senate confirmation hearings amid growing scrutiny of her tenure as Florida’s Attorney General. Allegations have surfaced that Bondi consistently sided with corporate donors, frequently dropping lawsuits or taking positions beneficial to companies that supported Republican organizations backing her campaigns.

Dropping Lawsuits After Donations

In 2014, Bondi’s office unexpectedly dropped a lawsuit against Expedia, the online travel booking giant, which had been accused of withholding taxes owed to Florida. This decision followed Expedia’s substantial donations exceeding $190,000 to the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) and the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) between 2011 and 2014. Both organizations were instrumental in supporting Bondi’s political career.

Bondi denied any undue influence, stating, “My office aggressively protects Floridians from unfair and deceptive business practices, and absolutely no access to me or my staff is going to have any bearing on my efforts to protect Floridians.”