This weekend, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was chosen to lead the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) for the next year.
Like every other incumbent Republican attorney general facing the voters this election cycle, Bondi prevailed at the polls earlier this month. Bondi replaces South Carolina Attorney General Alan Watson as chair of RAGA.
It is an honor to be selected by my fellow Republican attorneys general to lead RAGA at such a critical time in our countrys history, Bondi said on Monday. We will continue to stand up for the rule of law and protect the citizens of our states.
First elected to her post in 2010, Bondi focused on public safety issues including cracking down on pill mills and sex trafficking during her first term in office. Bondi won national attention when she led a coalition of states challenging President Barack Obamas federal health-care law. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law by one vote in 2012.
While her opponents played up the influence of lobbyists and her opposition to expanded medical marijuana and same-sex marriage, Bondi easily defeated former DCF Secretary George Sheldon, the Democratic nominee, and Libertarian Bill Wohlsifer, a Tallahassee attorney, two weeks ago.
Bondi will serve on the RAGA Executive Committee with Attorney General Bill Schuette of Michigan, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and Watson.
With the announcement of our new team, RAGA will have strong, aggressive and seamless leadership in the years to come, said Schuette, who was chosen over the weekend to take over from Bondi in a year, on Monday. I am delighted to be a part of this outstanding organization.
I look forward to serving in the leadership of RAGA so we can maintain and expand upon the current support for Republican attorneys general, said Strange who will take the baton from Schuette. These AGs are dedicated to defending the Constitution of their respective states as well as safeguarding the U.S. Constitution.
Also on the RAGA Executive Committee are Attorneys General Sam Olens of Georgia, Tim Fox of Montana, Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma, Sean Reyes of Utah and Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia.
The Florida Democratic Party signaled on Monday that it was not done hitting Bondi on ethics. The Florida Democrats launched a petition demanding Gov. Rick Scott set up an independent investigation into Bondis blatant disregard for the law on ethics.
As Florida's attorney general, Pam Bondi has a duty to uphold our laws and justice system with integrity, the Florida Democratic Party emailed supporters on Monday. But she could not care less. She's been selling out Florida's justice system to Washington lobbyists, socializing with attorneys who have corporate clients under state investigation. They shower her with free trips, and in return, she's been dropping cases and looking the other way. This behavior is wildly inappropriate and a clear violation of Florida law.
We cannot continue to let Bondi rob Floridians of the justice they deserve, the Florida Democratic Party continued. Our state needs an AG wholl fight back against the bad guys, not someone wholl take their gifts and hobnob with them at island resorts. It is our governors obligation to do the right thing by holding Bondi accountable for her actions.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
