Federal judges in New Jersey on Tuesday opted not to appoint former Trump attorney Alina Habba as the state’s top federal prosecutor on a permanent basis.
Habba, who was formerly a personal attorney for President Donald Trump, had been the acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey since Trump appointed her to the position in March.
In a brief order Tuesday, the judges said they named first assistant Desiree Leigh Grace as New Jersey’s United States attorney.
Habba served as Trump’s legal spokesperson in several cases after he left the White House in 2021.
When Trump reassumed the presidency this year, she was one of at least four of his defense attorneys to be named to posts in his administration, including Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and John Sauer.
“Alina is President Trump’s choice to lead,” Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said on social media after the judges’ decision was announced. “No partisan bench can override that.”
Habba was awaiting Senate confirmation when her 120-day term as acting U.S. attorney expired this week. It’s possible that the Trump administration could still push the Senate to undertake her confirmation.
In her tenure as U.S. attorney, Habba made a mark in politically charged cases, bringing prosecutions against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, both Democrats.
She also challenged New Jersey State Police over sanctuary policies related to immigration enforcement.
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