Alina Habba, President Trump's former personal attorney, resigned as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor after an appeals court declared her appointment unlawful. She condemned the ruling as political but stepped down to protect her office's integrity, vowing to fight the decision while remaining a senior adviser to AG Pam Bondi. This case highlights broader challenges to Trump-era acting prosecutor appointments.
Alina Habba, who previously served as President Donald Trump's personal attorney, has resigned from her role as the top federal prosecutor for New Jersey. Her resignation on Monday came after a federal appeals court ruled that she had been serving in the post unlawfully. Habba criticized the court's decision as politically motivated but stated she was resigning "to protect the stability and integrity" of her office, adding that the administration would continue its appeal of the rulings. She will remain with the Justice Department as a senior adviser to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has pledged to fight the disqualifications and return Habba to her position if appeals are successful. Habba's temporary appointment in March as acting U.S. attorney was controversial due to her lack of prosecutorial experience and partisan background, drawing opposition from New Jersey's Democratic senators. She had previously brought criticized charges against Democratic officials, including the mayor of Newark and U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver. President Trump lamented the situation, calling it a "sad situation" and criticizing the Senate's role in blocking nominees. The legal battle over Habba's appointment led to confusion and delays within New Jersey's federal court system. Critics allege that the Trump administration has exploited legal loopholes to install unqualified loyalists in positions requiring Senate confirmation. Habba's case is one of several where Trump-appointed acting U.S. attorneys across the country have faced challenges and disqualifications for exceeding legal limits on temporary appointments, with some leading to the dismissal of criminal cases.
