Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba’s future as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor was thrown into turmoil Tuesday after district court judges voted not to retain her—and the Trump Department of Justice promptly fired her designated replacement.
Habba’s 120-day term was set to expire this week, allowing the judges to either extend her tenure or appoint a new U.S. attorney.
The New Jersey bench, largely made up of judges appointed by Democratic presidents, voted to install Desiree Grace, a longtime prosecutor and Habba’s top deputy. But in a dramatic turn, the DOJ quickly dismissed Grace, leaving the post in limbo and raising questions about who will now take over the role, Fox News reported.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Grace’s firing should signal that the DOJ “does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers.”
“.@USAttyHabba has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again,” Bondi wrote on X. “Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant. Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed.”
Habba, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney and campaign spokesperson, sparked controversy soon after becoming U.S. attorney.
In May, she ordered the arrest of Newark’s Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, for allegedly trespassing at an immigration detention facility. However, Habba swiftly dropped the charges, prompting a judge to rebuke her for appearing to act in response to “public clamor.” Baraka has since filed a defamation lawsuit against her.
Trump signaled earlier this month that he wanted Alina Habba to remain as U.S. attorney, formally nominating her for a full four-year term. Habba also secured endorsements from multiple law enforcement organizations that praised her as a tough-on-crime prosecutor committed to targeting street-level offenses.
