New Jersey Judges Remove Trump-Appointed U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

Alina Habba, a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, has been removed from her role as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after serving a controversial 120-day term. Federal judges in New Jersey exercised their authority to replace Habba with her deputy, Desiree Leigh Grace, rather than extending her tenure or making her permanent. Habba's time in office was marked by politically charged prosecutions against prominent Democrats, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver, both of which drew criticism as being motivated by partisanship. Her appointment faced strong opposition from New Jersey's two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, who questioned her qualifications and impartiality. Reports suggest her leadership was divisive, leading to morale issues within the office and significant structural changes, such as disbanding the Civil Rights Division. The decision to replace Habba underscores ongoing tensions over politicization of key justice roles during Trump's second term.