Donald Trump’s nominee for Attorney General Pam Bondi has held ties to the Church of Scientology at various points throughout her career.
Bondi made history in 2010 when she was elected as Florida’s first female attorney general, a job she held until 2019.
During her tenure she accepted campaign contributions from Scientologists and attended multiple fundraisers organized by prominent members of the church.
A fundraiser for Bondi’s reelection campaign in 2014 in Clearwater, Florida, was organized by six prominent Scientologists, the Tampa Bay Times reported at the time. Christina Johnson, Bondi’s campaign spokeswoman, told the newspaper that Bondi was aware that Scientologists were staging the event.
Johnson said that Bondi first connected with Scientologists in 2010 when she and other elected officials toured some of the church’s facilities in Clearwater. She added that Bondi had spoken to a group of Scientologists about human trafficking and antidrug initiatives.
Ahead of the fundraiser in 2014, Johnson said: “It’s like-minded folks sharing the same goals: Protecting children against drug overdoses and human trafficking.”
Bondi’s office also cited the importance of speaking about the same issues before she addressed a group with ties to Scientology in 2016.
“Considering the seriousness of this issue, the Attorney General is open to talking to any organization about what our office is doing to combat this awful crime and educate them on what they can do to help,” Bondi’s spokeswoman Kylie Mason told the Tampa Bay Times.
Newsweek has contacted Bondi for comment outside of normal working hours.
A Trump spokesperson and The Church of Scientology have also been contacted for comment.
Hellbound and Down 