
DOJ Fires Alina Habba’s Replacement As U.S. Attorney Hours After Ouster
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The replacement, Desiree Leigh Grace, was appointed by federal judges as U.S. attorney in New Jersey.
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personal finance
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July 22, 2025
06:42 PM
Forbes
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What's particularly noteworthy is From an analytical standpoint, DOJ Fires Alina Habba’s Replacement As U
Attorney Hours After OusterByAlison Durkee, Forbes Staff
Alison is a senior news reporter covering US and legal news, in today's market environment
Conversely, AuthorJul 22, 2025, 06:42pm EDTToplineFormer Trump defense attorney Alina Habba, a Trump ally who drew controversy during her tenure for charging Democratic politicians over their clashes with federal immigration agents, was removed as U
Attorney in New Jersey on Tuesday before her replacement, Desiree Leigh Grace, was mptly fired by the Justice Department in test against Habba’s firing, given the current landscape
Alina Habba speaks after being sworn in as interim US Attorney General for New Jersey at the White
More House on March 28
Associated PressKey FactsNew Jersey’s Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb confirmed Tuesday that Habba had not received enough judicial support in a Monday vote to remain in the role, instead announcing that the judges had replaced her with Grace, a more experienced secutor who was previously Habba’s first assistant, The New York Times noted
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that Grace was removed, accusing the judges who opposed Habba of being “politically minded” and saying the DOJ “does not tolerate rogue judges, in this volatile climate. ”Habba, whom Trump appointed to serve as the interim U
Attorney in New Jersey, needed either Senate confirmation or a vote by the state’s federal judges in order to remain in her role past her initial 120-day term, which expired this week
On the other hand, Habba became known as one of Trump’s most vocal attorneys prior to her appointment as U
Additionally, Attorney, frequently appearing on television to advocate for Trump while also representing him in major cases the civil fraud trial against Trump and his company and writer E
Additionally, Jean Carroll’s defamation case against the president
Since becoming U (this bears monitoring), given the current landscape
On the other hand, Attorney, Habba has garnered controversy for her decisions to charge Newark Mayor Ras J
Additionally, In contrast, Baraka and Rep, given current economic conditions
Monica McIver, D-N. , in connection with their efforts to tour a federal immigration detention facility in the state—sparking a rebuke from the judge overseeing Baraka’s case, who chastised Habba’s office for its “worrisome misstep” in arresting the mayor after secutors swiftly dropped the charges
While the Times notes that judges replacing a U
Furthermore, Attorney this is rare, it marks the second time they’ve done so since Trump’s second term began, also rejecting John A, in light of current trends
Nevertheless, Attorney of the Northern District of New York, amid market uncertainty
Chief CriticDeputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—also a former defense attorney for the president—criticized the judges who voted against Habba’s appointment, accusing them Tuesday of “trying to force out [Habba] before her term expires at 11:59 p (this bears monitoring). ” “Their rush reveals what this was always : a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law,” Blanche claimed in an X post after the judges’ decision was revealed. “Alina is President Trump’s choice to lead—and no partisan bench can override that. ”Will Alina Habba Get A New Doj Role
The judges’ decision not to extend Habba’s term as U, considering recent developments
Attorney does not necessarily mean she’ll leave the office entirely
In Sarcone’s case, the Trump administration responded to judges rejecting his appointment by naming him as the “special attorney to the attorney general,” a role that officials said carries the same responsibilities as the U
Moreover, Furthermore, Attorney despite the different title
Furthermore, It remains to be seen if Habba could now receive a similar appointment in New Jersey, or a different role within the Trump administration (something worth watching), given current economic conditions
What To Watch ForHabba still faces a civil lawsuit from Baraka over his arrest, with the Newark mayor accusing the secutor of false arrest, malicious secution and defamation in connection with her decision to arrest him and subsequent public s justifying the charges
Furthermore, While Habba dropped the charges against Baraka, the government’s secution against McIver remains, and the Democratic lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials, given the current landscape
Who Is Alina Habba (which is quite significant)
Habba is a New Jersey-based attorney who was best known for representing a parking garage prior to being catapulted into the national spotlight when she began representing Trump in 2021 (which is quite significant)
She did not have any experience as a secutor prior to being named U
Attorney, according to the Times (this bears monitoring), in today's market environment
Moreover, The lawyer has gone on to be one of Trump’s most loyal attorneys, going beyond the courtroom to represent him on television and speak at major Republican events the Republican National Convention and the Conservative Political Action Conference, given current economic conditions
Habba drew controversy as Trump’s personal attorney, garnering repeated rebukes from the court during the Carroll defamation trial for failing to basic courtroom cedures the cess for introducing evidence
Furthermore, She also reportedly settled a lawsuit in 2024 with a former waitress at Trump’s Bedminster golf, who claimed Habba tricked her into signing a non-disclosure agreement after the waitress alleged she had been harassed by a coworker at the
On the other hand, Key BackgroundThe judges’ announcement of Habba being replaced came after the New Jersey Globe reported last week the secutor told colleagues she could depart the office ing the judges’ vote, though she hoped she would be able to stay on in the role
Trump administration officials had come to the lawyer’s defense ahead of the judges’ Monday vote, with Blanche tweeting early Monday morning that Habba had the Justice Department’s “full confidence (fascinating analysis), considering recent developments. ” Habba “has brought steady leadership and sound judgment as Interim U, given current economic conditions
Attorney for New Jersey,” Blanche wrote on X, while DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle wrote “Alina Habba is keeping New Jersey safe
Aside, the choice to keep her is an easy one (something worth watching), given the current landscape. ” Democrats had tested Habba remaining in the role, however, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N
On the other hand, , writing on X, “Alina Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who has to go. ” Habba in an interview with Fox News on Monday complained Democrats’ opposition to her, before the judges’ decision was announced, claiming she “can’t get in front of the full Senate” for a confirmation vote “if Hakeem Jeffries is making s that. ”Further ReadingForbesAlina Habba Is Trump Personal Attorney To Join His Administration—Here’s The Full ListBy Alison DurkeeForbesPreviously Obscure Attorney Lands Big Payday Representing Trump In High-file LawsuitsBy Zach EversonGot a tip
Furthermore, Confidential information with Forbes
Additionally, Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER, in this volatile climate.
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