Controversy is festering over a US District Court's recent attempted replacement of Interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba.
US Attorney Habba, who is awaiting official confirmation from the US Senate, had reportedly foreshadowed that the progressive District Judges for New Jersey would not retain her.
US Attorney appointees can be replaced by the US District court of the jurisdiction they serve if unconfirmed by the US Senate after 120 days.
New Jersey’s US District Court recently exercised such authority and appointed Desiree Leigh Grace to replace Habba.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, blocked the Court’s appointment by immediately removing Grace from her post.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the removal and derided Grace’s appointment as “politically minded.”
“Habba has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again,” said Attorney General Bondi, “nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant.”
“Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed,” stated Bondi.
Trump administration officials praised Habba’s work and pressured the Court to retain her.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche exhorted the District Court to re-appoint Habba to her position.
“District judges should use their authority to keep (Habba) in place,” said Deputy Attorney General Blanche, adding that Habba has “the full confidence of @POTUS and DOJ.”
Habba served as one of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyers between his two administrations prior to being appointed as US Attorney in March 205.
Since her appointment, Habba has led cases enforcing immigration laws, targeting violent criminals, and even persecuting unlawful behavior by Democrat lawmakers.
Last May, for example, Habba charged Democrat Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ) after the latter had an altercation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Habba claims the charges were her last option, which she ultimately resorted to after McIver “declined” to cooperate with the DOJ to find an alternative resolution.
