Alina Habba steps down after court rules against her service.
Alina Habba has stepped down as the US Attorney for New Jersey. This follows a court battle that questioned her eligibility to occupy the role.
Attorney General's Statement
The head of the Justice Department, the Attorney General, announced Habba's resignation on the start of the week. Bondi stated that the appeals court finding made it impossible for the official to perform her duties.
"But do not mistake compliance for surrender," she wrote. "This battle will now stretch across the country."
Legal Background
The departure comes a week after a US appeals court found that she had been serving in violation of the law as the federal prosecutor. This ruling is could influence scores of prosecutions in the Garden State.
The court ruled that a temporary posting that did not receive Senate approval violated the statute on vacant positions.
Ongoing Legal Battle
It was also stated that she will remain at the Department of Justice as a high-level advisor. They intend to pursue additional appeals of the court's action, aiming for a overturned decision.
In a statement, Bondi argued that the court "should not be able to override the President's choice of lawyers responsible for executing the fundamental role of the presidency of criminal prosecution."
Performance in Office
Bondi praised Habba's record and said that under her leadership, the Newark saw a significant drop in offenses. She also stated that the city of Camden recorded its first summer in 50 years free from homicides.
Connection to Donald Trump
Habba, 41, first joined Trump's personal legal team in recent years. She later represented the former president in his business records case in 2024, leading to his conviction on 34 counts of financial record manipulation.
Prior to her appointment to the top New Jersey post, the former president had announced he was appointing her as his presidential counsellor if re-elected, calling the lawyer as "unwavering in her loyalty" and a relentless legal advocate.
