{"text":[[{"start":13.34,"text":"US president-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi for attorney-general just hours after Matt Gaetz, his initial pick, withdrew from consideration for the role. "}],[{"start":24.54,"text":"The unexpected move injected fresh drama into Trump’s selection of cabinet nominees, as he seeks to swiftly secure a head for the Department of Justice, one of the most important posts in his incoming administration. "}],[{"start":38.18,"text":"The new attorney-general will need to be confirmed by a majority of US senators. "}],[{"start":44.09,"text":"A two-term state attorney-general from Florida, Bondi is seen as a less controversial pick than Gaetz, who had limited legal experience and was previously under investigation by the DoJ for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an underage girl. "}],[{"start":61.040000000000006,"text":"While no charges were ever brought, he was also the subject of a long-running congressional investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and drug use. "},{"start":70.482,"text":"The investigation was shelved when Gaetz, 42, resigned his congressional seat last week. "},{"start":76.724,"text":"Gaetz has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. "}],[{"start":81.14000000000001,"text":"Bondi is a longtime Trump ally who was part of his legal defence team in his first impeachment trial and defended the president-elect’s efforts to question the result of the 2020 election, including overseeing the filing of voting-related lawsuits in several states. "}],[{"start":98.07000000000002,"text":"“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — Not anymore,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday. "},{"start":109.17400000000002,"text":"“Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. ”"}],[{"start":116.47000000000003,"text":"He added that Bondi was “smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! ”"}],[{"start":125.16000000000003,"text":"Gaetz endorsed the pick, saying in a post on X that Bondi was a “stellar selection” who would “bring the needed reforms to DOJ”. "}],[{"start":134.22000000000003,"text":"Other Trump allies expressed confidence that unlike Gaetz, Bondi would face few problems in being confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. "}],[{"start":144.00000000000003,"text":"South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham posted on X that Bondi was a “grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick,” adding: “She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly. ”"}],[{"start":162.08000000000004,"text":"Bondi served as Florida attorney-general from 2011 to 2019. "},{"start":167.38400000000004,"text":"She then joined Ballard Partners, an influential lobbying firm with close ties to Trump. "},{"start":173.11400000000003,"text":"Susie Wiles, Trump’s pick for White House chief of staff, worked at the firm for nearly a decade. "}],[{"start":180.66000000000003,"text":"Bondi chairs Ballard’s corporate regulatory compliance practice. "},{"start":185.10200000000003,"text":"She has lobbied the federal government on behalf of General Motors, Amazon, Uber, Qatar’s government and other clients. "}],[{"start":193.77000000000004,"text":"She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "}],[{"start":198.01000000000005,"text":"Bondi is also chair of the litigation centre at the America First Policy Institute, a rightwing think-tank aligned with Trump and led by his transition co-chair Linda McMahon. "}],[{"start":209.80000000000004,"text":"Trump and Bondi were scrutinised in 2016 over a $25,000 donation that Trump, then a real estate magnate, made in 2013 to her re-election campaign for Florida attorney-general. "}],[{"start":223.23000000000005,"text":"Days after the donation was received, Bondi decided not to proceed with an investigation into alleged fraud at Trump University, a now defunct for-profit college. "}],[{"start":234.33000000000004,"text":"Both Trump and Bondi have long denied any connection between the donation and Bondi’s decision in the case. "}],[{"start":240.82000000000005,"text":""}]],"url":"https://creatives.ftmailbox.cn/album/181748-1732244061.mp3"}