Opinion: Gaetz Bows Out—All Eyes On Pam Bondi

On Thursday, November 21, Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General in President Trump's next cabinet. This decision follows a wave of allegations about his character and behavior, ranging from inappropriate actions, such as showing explicit photos of women to fellow congressmen, to accusations of sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl.

It is important to note that Gaetz denies committing any crimes and has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing. Equally important is recognizing that sex trafficking is a serious issue in America, and all accusations should be thoroughly investigated. Having not personally researched the accusations, I cannot speak to Matt Gaetz's guilt or innocence. However, as a young woman, I believe many of us find it incredibly frustrating to live in a time where baseless sex crime allegations can be weaponized as political tools, while high-profile offenders like Jeffrey Epstein's clients remain anonymous and unaccountable.

The reality is that most of us likely have not personally investigated the allegations against Matt Gaetz—and that’s understandable. After all, we’re also monitoring the risk of a potential nuclear conflict with Russia, grappling with a crippling national debt, and observing potential power struggles within federal agencies opposed to Donald Trump's presidency.

From a broader perspective, it seems reasonable that President Trump—who has himself faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct—might empathize with Gaetz. If Gaetz is innocent and truly committed to the America First agenda, it’s also reasonable to assume he might step aside, knowing that his personal controversies could become another media distraction for the next Trump administration.

Switching focus to Pam Bondi, here’s what we know:

Pam Bondi, 59, is a Republican and former Florida Attorney General (2011–2019).

As Florida’s Attorney General, Bondi prioritized cracking down on the overprescription of opioids like OxyContin, shutting down "pill mills," and creating and chairing Florida's Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.

Bondi has long been a Trump ally, though critics have accused her of accepting a $25,000 donation from the Trump Foundation in 2013 in exchange for declining to investigate Trump University for fraud. Both Bondi and Trump deny any wrongdoing, although Trump later paid a fine related to the donation. It’s fair to acknowledge the possibility that Trump supported Bondi’s campaign earnestly and that her office may have objectively determined the evidence did not warrant an investigation.

The good news for America? Bondi has significant experience addressing pharmaceutical corruption, which fueled the opioid crisis, and tackling organized crime. Let’s hope she brings that expertise to Washington.