Appeals court Removes Alina Habba as New Jersey Federal Prosecutor
An appeals court has disqualified Alina Habba, a lawyer known for representing Donald Trump, from her role as the US attorney for New Jersey. The ruling stems from challenges arguing her appointment was unlawful, adding to a growing number of legal battles over Trump-appointed federal prosecutors.
Habba’s appointment, and now disqualification, is the latest in a series of cases questioning the legality of interim US Attorney appointments made during the Trump administration. Three men facing criminal charges in New Jersey initially brought the challenge that lead to Monday’s decision, arguing habba’s position was invalid. A federal judge initially ruled in their favor in August, a decision that was paused pending the appeals court review.
Prior to becoming US Attorney for New Jersey, Trump announced his intention to appoint Habba as his presidential counsellor during a potential second term, praising her as “unwavering in her loyalty” and a “tireless advocate for justice.” She also represented trump in his New York hush-money trial last year, where he was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records and has since filed an appeal.
Monday’s ruling likely necessitates the Justice Department to appoint a new prosecutor to oversee federal criminal cases in New Jersey.
This case is part of a broader trend of legal challenges to Trump-appointed US Attorneys. Last week, a federal judge dismissed criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, citing the unlawful appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim US Attorney in Virginia. In October, Bill Essayli was disqualified as acting US Attorney for the Southern District of California for exceeding the legal limit for a temporary appointment, though he remains in a supervisory role as first assistant US attorney while a motion to fully remove him is considered. Similarly,Nevada’s lead federal prosecutor,Sigal Chattah,was disqualified in September for not being lawfully appointed.
