The first attorney general, Edmund Randolph, was President George Washington’s confidant and close political ally. Between then and now, presidents have, from time to time, appointed friends and supporters to be attorneys general. They even chose campaign managers or their party’s national chairperson to be attorney general of the United States.

Pam Bondi has been sworn in as attorney general. She's taking charge of the Justice Department as it braces for upheaval with President Donald Trump looking to exert his will over an agency that's long provoked his ire.