Pam Bondi Under Fire For Lobbying Ties To Controversial Pharma Firm
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing scrutiny after newly disclosed lobbying records revealed her firm's work for a pharmaceutical company accused of price gouging. The revelations, first reported by The Tampa Bay Times on Thursday, show Bondi's firm was paid $240,000 last quarter to lobby for Kaleo Pharma, maker of the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan.
The news comes as Kaleo faces congressional investigations over raising Narcan's price from $575 to $4,100 per dose since 2019. Bondi, who served as Florida's top prosecutor from 2011-2019, has not publicly addressed the payments. Her firm, Ballard Partners, confirmed the lobbying contract but declined further comment.
Public health advocates expressed outrage at the connection. "This is exactly the kind of revolving door that erodes public trust," said Dr. Caleb Alexander of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Bondi previously led Florida's lawsuits against opioid manufacturers during the state's addiction crisis.
The controversy has gained traction amid renewed national focus on drug pricing. President Biden mentioned Narcan specifically in last month's State of the Union address when discussing pharmaceutical reforms. Bondi's name trended on social media Thursday afternoon as critics contrasted her current work with her past anti-opioid crusade.
Florida ethics laws allow former officials to lobby after a two-year cooling-off period. Bondi left office in January 2019 and registered as a federal lobbyist in 2021. Congressional records show her firm has represented over a dozen healthcare clients since then.
The House Oversight Committee confirmed Thursday it is reviewing Kaleo's pricing practices. A spokesperson said all lobbyists connected to the investigation would be examined, but declined to comment specifically on Bondi. The committee expects to hold hearings on pharmaceutical pricing this summer.
Bondi remains a prominent Republican figure, frequently appearing on Fox News as a legal analyst. She served on Donald Trump's impeachment defense team in 2020 and has been mentioned as a potential candidate for Florida governor in 2026.
