Trump Justice: Who Will Donald Trump Name as U.S. Attorney General?

A review of the leading contenders for United States Attorney General

As President Trump’s transition team begins to take shape, speculation is swirling about who he will choose to lead the Department of Justice. The Attorney General is one of the most powerful positions in the federal government, and whoever Trump appoints will have a major impact on the direction of American law enforcement and civil rights policy.

Leading contenders

Several candidates are considered to be frontrunners for the position, including:

• Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey, is a close ally of Trump and has been a vocal supporter of his policies. Christie has a strong law enforcement background, having served as a federal prosecutor and U.S. Attorney.
• Jeff Sessions, the senior Republican senator from Alabama, is a conservative firebrand who has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration's policies on immigration and criminal justice.
• Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City, is a longtime friend of Trump and has been a key surrogate for his campaign. Giuliani has a strong law enforcement background, having served as a federal prosecutor and U.S. Attorney.

Other potential candidates include:

• Pam Bondi, the Attorney General of Florida, is a close ally of Trump and has been a vocal supporter of his policies.
• Trey Gowdy, the Republican representative from South Carolina, is a former federal prosecutor who has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration's policies on immigration and criminal justice.
• Michael Mukasey, the former Attorney General under President George W. Bush, is a conservative who has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration's policies on immigration and criminal justice.

The Attorney General is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The confirmation process can be contentious, and it is possible that Trump's nominee will face opposition from Democrats and some Republicans.