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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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President-elect Donald Trump's new pick for Attorney General once earned $115,000 a month as a registered foreign lobbyist for the Qatari government, which has often been accused of human rights abuses.
She worked for Qatar in 2020 during the run-up to the 2022 soccer World Cup, when the state introduced new laws to end one of the most abusive elements of the country's labor system.
The highly successful executive and former Florida Attorney General faces intense scrutiny after stepping in when former Florida Republican rep Matt Gaetz stepped down from the nomination as U.S. Attorney General on Thursday, amid a storm of controversy and allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied.
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"Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again," Donald Trump said in a statement following the announcement. "I have known Pam for many years—She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!"
A close ally of Trump, Bondi is a partner at Ballard Partners, a lobbying and government affairs firm founded by Brian Ballard, who has been referred to as the "most powerful lobbyist in Trump's Washington."
Her work with the Qatari government began in 2019 for a fee of $115,000 per month, according to an amendment to a consulting services agreement posted on X, formerly Twitter, by journalist Michael Tracey. Department of Justice documents also show she was tasked with "providing advice, counsel, and other assistance with respect to efforts to combat human trafficking."
Newsweek has contacted representatives of Bondi for comment via email for confirmation.
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However, after just over four months, Bondi severed ties with Ballard Partners, as well as the Qatari government, in November 2019, to take up a temporary position in the White House Counsel's office.
At the time, Trump was facing his first impeachment trial for alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after a House inquiry found that he sought foreign interference in the 2020 election to aid his reelection, obstructing the investigation by directing officials to ignore subpoenas.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and was acquitted by the Senate.
Bondi later returned to Ballard Partners following the conclusion of the impeachment trial in March 2020, resuming her lobbying for the Qatari government, according to Justice Department documents.
Her registration with the Qatari government is no longer active, though she remains affiliated with Ballard Partners, according to The New York Times. She is currently registered as a lobbyist for law enforcement-related clients, including an association representing some of the country's largest sheriff's offices and another group representing sheriffs in Florida, as well as the Florida sheriffs' self-insurance program.
Qatar, the world's wealthiest country, has come under scrutiny in the past for its poor human rights record. This is owing to its "kafala" system which requires migrant workers to have a sponsor, usually their employer, who is responsible for their legal status and visa.
This system has been criticized by human rights organizations for creating opportunities to exploit workers, including wage theft, forced labor and exploitation, according to Amnesty International.
However, the country passed laws in 2020 which mean workers in Qatar may now change jobs without needing to obtain their employers' permission, ending one of the most criticized elements of the country's labor system.
The government also announced an increase in the minimum wage. The U.N.'s International Labour Organization (ILO) said at the time that the new law "effectively dismantles the 'kafala' sponsorship system and marks the beginning of a new era for the Qatari labor market."
A Florida native, Bondi served as the state attorney general for eight years, from 2011 to 2019. She also acted as a surrogate on the 2024 campaign trail and led the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump.
She replaced former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as Trump's nominee for Attorney General after he withdrew from consideration on Thursday.
Gaetz was considered Trump's most controversial Cabinet nominee, given that he was the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation into whether he engaged in drug use and sex trafficking.
The panel launched its investigation after the DOJ closed a criminal probe into whether Gaetz violated federal sex-trafficking laws and obstructed justice. No charges were filed against him. Gaetz has vehemently denied all allegations, and he spent Wednesday meeting with Republican senators who would have been instrumental in his confirmation.
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