President Donald Trump on Monday appointed Alina Habba, his personal attorney and White House counselor, as the next interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. “Alina will lead with the same diligence and conviction that has defined her career, and she will fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both ‘Fair and Just’ for the wonderful people of New Jersey,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.
For her part, Habba vowed to “end the weaponization of justice, once and for all” in her new position. “I am honored to serve my home state of New Jersey as Interim U.S. Attorney and I am grateful to President Trump for entrusting me with this tremendous responsibility,” she posted on X. “Just like I did during my time as President Trump’s personal attorney, I will continue to fight for truth and justice. We will end the weaponization of justice, once and for all.”
Trump announced that Habba would succeed John Giordano as the interim U.S. attorney, a position he will vacate to be nominated as the ambassador to Namibia. Habba gained prominence as part of Trump’s circle after spending several years practicing law in New Jersey.
After spending two years as a merchandiser at fashion company Marc Jacobs, Habba attended Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Pennsylvania, where she graduated in 2011. She then completed a yearlong clerkship with New Jersey Superior Court Judge Eugene Codey Jr. before practicing law for eight years at two different firms. In 2020, she founded her own practice, specializing in civil and commercial litigation, ABC News reported.
Habba reportedly met Trump through her membership at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. Her big break with the former president came when she represented him in a $100 million lawsuit against the New York Times and his estranged niece, Mary L. Trump.
While the New York Times lawsuit was dismissed, Habba’s other legal work for Trump has had mixed results. She earned praise from Trump when Summer Zervos, a former “Apprentice” contestant who accused him of sexual assault, dropped her defamation case against him, the outlet said.
However, when Habba filed a lawsuit claiming that Hillary Clinton and others conspired to harm Trump’s reputation, the judge dismissed the case, accusing Trump of “using the courts to seek revenge on political adversaries,” and imposed nearly $1 million in fines on both Trump and Habba.
In announcing her appointment as counselor to the president in December, Trump said, “Alina has been a tireless advocate for Justice, a fierce Defender of the Rule of Law, and an invaluable Advisor to my Campaign and Transition Team. She has been unwavering in her loyalty, and unmatched in her resolve – standing with me through numerous ‘trials,’ battles, and countless days in Court.”