Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. | Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images Bondi says she's 'honored' to serve Trump in 'historic' transition effort

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, the only statewide elected Republican who endorsed Donald Trump before the state’s GOP primary, secured a spot Friday on the executive committee of the president-elect’s transition team.

“I’m honored to serve President-elect Donald J. Trump in making this historic transition and assisting in finding the best individuals to bring change to Washington on day one, grow our economy, protect our children and families, and be unafraid to stand up for Americans,” Bondi said in a statement to POLITICO Florida.


Bondi joins a team of sixteen people, including members of Congress, Trump's campaign CEO, three of the president-elect's children and his son in law. Bondi’s name has also been floated as a possible U.S. attorney general nominee, though former U.S. attorney and New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is considered a favorite.

The path to becoming a Trump insider didn’t come without a toll for Bondi. She was excoriated by Trump’s critics for previously receiving a donation from him shortly before her office declined to bring a fraud case against Trump University. Bondi and Trump denied any wrongdoing, and no evidence surfaced to prove critics claims that there was a quid pro quo.

Bondi, friendly with Trump’s oldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, was admired by the candidate because she didn’t buckle under the media scrutiny over the Trump University controversy.

But Trump fundraiser and longtime Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard said Bondi's qualifications for the post transcend her personal and familial connections with Trump.

"She's trusted by the president-elect because she knows not only Florida but the legal community across the nation," Ballard said. "No one has his and the country's interests at heart as much as Pam Bondi."

This story has been updated with additional reporting.