Political gamesmanship over who’s going to be the U.S. attorney in New Jersey continues, as Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday immediately fired the replacement for President Trump’s pick Alina Habba who had been ousted from her interim position by federal judges.
In a post on X, Bondi said Habba “has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again. 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.
.@USAttyHabba has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again. 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…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) July 22, 2025
Bondi concluded: “This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges – especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers.”
Axios reported the first assistant who got the ax is Desiree Leigh Grace. a nine-year career prosecutor who previously ran the New Jersey office’s criminal division.
ABC News reports: “Federal law gives district judges the authority to name a United States attorney if the president’s nominee is not acted upon by the U.S. Senate within 120 days.
“Previous Justice Departments have recognized that district judges have the authority to name a United States attorney if the president’s nominee is not acted upon by the U.S. Senate within 120 days.
“It’s unclear if the Trump Justice Department now believes it can bypass that process or if it plans to seek Senate confirmation for Habba.”
Habba’s term as interim U.S. attorney expires Friday night at 11:59 p.m., but a group of federal judges Tuesday refused to extend her time on the job after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pushed to oust her, citing her indictment of U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., who allegedly body-checked an ICE agent.
“The so-called U.S. Attorney in NJ maliciously indicted Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for doing her job,” Jeffries said.
“Alina Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who has to go.
“She must be rejected by the Federal District Court judges who are considering whether to retain her.”
The so-called U.S. Attorney in NJ maliciously indicted Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for doing her job.
Alina Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who has to go.
She must be rejected by the Federal District Court judges who are considering whether to retain her.…
— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) July 18, 2025
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
‘Clear corruption’: Hakeem Jeffries accused of pressing judges to oust U.S. Attorney Alina Habba
