Who Is John Wakefield? What We Know About Pam Bondi’s Partner

President Donald Trump‘s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, advanced on Monday to a final Senate floor vote on her confirmation, which will come on Tuesday, according to a news report.

Newsweek has reached out to the Senate Judiciary Committee via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Bondi’s nomination is pivotal as the Justice Department faces heightened scrutiny following Trump’s election victory. Democrats fear that her appointment could undermine the Justice Department’s independence, particularly given her close ties to Trump and past statements advocating for investigations into his perceived adversaries.

Bondi’s critics also argue that her leadership could pave the way for the department to be used to settle political scores, eroding public trust in law enforcement.

Who Is Pam Bondi?

Bondi, 59, who was born in Temple Terrace, Florida, was a Florida attorney general for eight years, from 2011 to 2019, and is the first woman elected to the office. This came after she began her career as a prosecutor for 18 years in Hillsborough County.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from the University of Florida, has been a close adviser to Trump for many years. She also worked as one of Trump’s defense lawyers during his first impeachment trial, in 2020. In addition, she was a vocal supporter of Trump’s attempts to challenge the 2020 election results, when Trump lost to former President Joe Biden.

In November, Bondi was asked by Trump to lead the Justice Department after it became clear the president-elect’s first pick, former Representative Matt Gaetz, would not have the votes to be confirmed to the position. Gaetz, who withdrew from the nomination in late November, was investigated by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct.

Beginning in January, Bondi went through Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings that ended Monday. A full Senate vote is expected Tuesday, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Reuters reported.

Who Is Pam Bondi’s Partner, John Wakefield?

John Wakefield is founding principal at Varner Wakefield Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on real estate investments across the U.S.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts n English from the College of Charleston in 1994 and an international MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1998, according to Varner Wakefield Equity Partners’ website.

Wakefield, who first appeared on Bondi’s Instagram in October 2017, has since been in a relationship with the attorney general nominee.

The most recent photo of them together, taken at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, was shared on October 22 last year. Another picture shared to Bondi’s Instagram shows the two in August 2022 in Ireland.

Wakefield has three children from a previous relationship. His Instagram bio reads: “My three monster children are roaming the world.”

Some reports have said Bondi is engaged to Wakefield, but neither of them have confirmed this.

Who Are Pam Bondi’s Ex-Husbands?

Bondi was previously married twice, with both unions ending in divorce. She first tied the knot back in 1990 when she married Garret Barnes at the age of 24. The marriage lasted 22 months.

In 1996, Bondi married Scott Fitzgerald, but they divorced in 2002.

What People Are Saying

Pam Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee in her January 15 opening statement: “If confirmed, my overriding objective would be to return the Department of Justice to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law…. Under my watch, the partisan weaponization of the Department of Justice will end. America must have one tier of justice for all.”

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois said during Bondi’s confirmation hearings: “I need to know that you would tell the president ‘no’ if you’re asked to do something that is wrong, illegal or unconstitutional.”

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Monday: “Later today we’re going to have the first set of votes on the nomination of Pam Bondi to serve as the attorney general of the United States. Before we do, I’d like to speak in support of her nomination….There’s no doubt that Ms. Bondi’s highly qualified. She’s capable of doing the job well, and she represents mainstream views shared by at least the 77 million Americans who voted for change in the 2024 election.”

He went on: “This should earn her the same bipartisan support this body gave to Attorney General Garland, including this senator. I’m disappointed that none of my Democratic colleagues on the Judiciary Committee voted for Ms. Bondi, and I hope the full Senate takes a different approach.”

What Happens Next

If confirmed, Bondi will oversee the Justice Department at a critical time in the new administration. While she has pledged to lead the department with fairness and integrity, her close relationship with Trump and reluctance to distance herself from his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud are likely to remain focal points of criticism.