The Daily News

Attorney General Pam Bondi was sworn in as the 87th Attorney General of the United States on February 5th, 2025. She is a fourth-generation Floridian from Tampa, Florida who spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor, trying cases ranging from domestic violence to capital murder. In 2010, she ran for Florida Attorney General, becoming the 37th and first female Attorney General in Florida’s history, serving for two consecutive terms from 2011-2019.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Pam Bondi remained strong in her commitment to make Florida the safest state to live, work, and raise a family. When Attorney General Bondi took office, Florida was referred to as the pill mill capital of the United States. Of the top 100 oxycodone dispensers in the country, 98 of them were in Florida.

In her first legislative session, Attorney General Bondi successfully fought for tough legislation to shut down all 98 of these unscrupulous doctors and clinics. She was then appointed Co-chair of the Substance Abuse Committee for the National Association of Attorneys General and to President Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission where she worked alongside other national leaders in areas of prevention, interdiction, and treatment. In her commitment to combating human trafficking, Attorney General Bondi spearheaded efforts to strengthen Florida’s state laws, raise public awareness, and provide enhanced resources for victims

              As of April 2, 2026, Pam Bondi served as the United States Attorney General for 14 months, having been sworn in on February 5, 2025, and departing in April 2026. The Attorney General (AG) acts as the chief law enforcement officer and head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), leading federal legal affairs and supervising agencies like the FBI, DEA, and Bureau of Prisons. They represent the U.S. in court, advise the President, and oversee federal prosecutions.

              Bondi’s departure follows months of controversy and public backlash over the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files — a massive trove of evidence related to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 child sex-trafficking case, the release of which was a major campaigning point for the president in the 2024 election. Trump was also upset and the lack of speed to pursue more cases against in his political opponents.

There isn’t a single clear, widely agreed-upon number of “cases against Trump’s political opponents” that Pam Bondi actually pursued—because only a small number of concrete prosecutions are publicly documented. One legal tracker found about 6 criminal prosecutions brought by the Justice Department during that period that were widely cited as politically connected cases.

There were more investigations than prosecutions. Reports show several additional political figures were investigated, even if they weren’t formally charged. So the number of investigations is higher, but not all became cases. News reporting emphasizes limited success. Recent coverage says Donald Trump was frustrated because Bondi did not secure many convictions. Many efforts were blocked, stalled, or unsuccessful. 6 identifiable criminal prosecutions were tied to political opponents.

Merrick Garland is an American lawyer and judge who served as the 86th U.S. Attorney General under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025. His career is notable for a long reputation as a careful, institutionalist figure in U.S. law. Born in 1952 in Chicago he then attended Harvard University (undergrad) and Harvard Law School. When prosecutions did occur under Garland, they generally Involved non-political crimes (fraud, tax, Jan. 6 offenses, etc.). He even targeted someone politically connected to Biden himself (e.g., Hunter Biden was prosecuted and convicted on federal charges). If you value institutional independence and caution

Between Bondi and Garland, Garland is usually rated more favorably. Garland emphasized keeping the Justice Department at arm’s length from the White House. He relied heavily on career prosecutors and special counsels (like Jack Smith) for politically sensitive cases. Supporters say he protected norms and avoided politicizing DOJ. In a more negative light, he seemed as too slow or overly cautious, especially early on in cases involving Donald Trump.

Bondi’s approach appealed more to some supporters—but with major downsides. Bondi was viewed as more willing to pursue cases involving political figures. This aligned with calls for a more confrontational DOJ approach. Even though this is something voted poorly of her actions by Trump, she was more politically active when it came to their opponents. Efforts tied to political opponents often didn’t lead to successful prosecutions. Critics argued this risked using DOJ in a more overtly political way and even some allies were frustrated by the lack of concrete results.

As of now (right after being fired in April 2026), Pam Bondi has not taken on a clearly defined new public job yet—but we do know a few concrete things about what she’s doing next. Bondi has said she is “thrilled” to transition into a private-sector role. However, no specific company, firm, or position has been publicly confirmed yet. This usually means possibilities like Law firms, Consulting or lobbying, Political advisory roles. She said she will assist with the transition to the acting attorney general. Todd Blanche is currently filling the role.

Todd Blanche is an American lawyer best known for his work as a criminal defense attorney and for representing high-profile political figures, including Donald Trump. As of April 2026, he has stepped into a major national role as acting U.S. Attorney General following the departure of Pam Bondi. Blanche is a former federal prosecutor, having worked in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), one of the most prominent federal prosecutorial offices in the U.S. After leaving government, he moved into private practice, becoming a partner at elite law firms.