Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s Visit to Rome, Italy, Vatican City, and Lyon, France

WASHINGTON - Last week, Attorney General Pamela Bondi visited Rome, Italy to deliver the keynote address at the 25th Anniversary of the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons and met with Italian government officials. Attorney General Bondi held meetings with U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch. At the Vatican, Attorney General Bondi met with Pope Leo XIV and participated in a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. In Lyon, France, Attorney General Bondi visited the headquarters of INTERPOL and participated in a series of meetings with Secretary General Valdecy Uriquiza and U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco Charles Kushner.

Readout of Attorney General Pamela Bondi's Meeting with Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio

On Wednesday, December 10th in Rome, Attorney General Bondi participated in a productive meeting with Italy's Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio. The Attorney General is grateful for Italy's continued strong cooperation with the United States, particularly in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance. Italy's Justice Ministry has been critical to the success of criminal cases, especially in the area of cybercrime and in the apprehension of cyber fugitives. The Attorney General appreciates the invitation to participate in marking the 25th Anniversary of the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons. Under President Trump, this Department of Justice is eradicating transnational criminal organizations that threaten our border security and bring violence, drugs, and crime into our country. Meeting participants included Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Matt Galeotti.

Readout of Attorney General Pamela Bondi's Meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

On Thursday, December 11th in Rome, Attorney General Bondi met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss a range of law enforcement priorities. The Attorney General expressed her appreciation for the invitation to participate in marking the 25th Anniversary of the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The Attorney General and the Prime Minister discussed the continued law enforcement cooperation between both the U.S. and Italy, specifically in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Importantly, the Attorney General noted that the FBI under Director Kash Patel's leadership also reports outstanding collaboration with the Polizia Postale, Polizia di Stato, and others on several ransomware and malware investigations. The Attorney General expressed her thanks to the Prime Minister for focusing the G7 under Italy's presidency towards the grave dangers of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl. Meeting participants included Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Matt Galeotti.

Readout of Attorney General Pamela Bondi's Meetings with INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza and U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco Charles Kushner

On Friday, December 12th in Lyon, the Attorney General held a series of meetings with INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza. The Attorney General continued important conversations underscoring the importance of effective and reliable information-sharing with our international partners to fight transnational criminal organizations that endanger our communities, prey on our children, and traffic lethal drugs, like fentanyl, into the United States. The Attorney General led a discussion on how INTERPOL could better align with U.S. priorities on border security and help victims of child sexual abuse. The Attorney General made clear that it is important ATF, DEA, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service can rely on INTERPOL for accurate and actionable data. The Attorney General also highlighted INTERPOL's critical role with people with foreign warrants who live in the U.S., which has resulted in a total of 365 fugitives with active Red Notices arrested in the United States this calendar year. Thanks to our close collaboration with INTERPOL, these dangerous international fugitives are being removed from our communities and our country. Meeting participants included Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Matt Galeotti.