A key Trump appointee has handed in her resignation…
On Monday, Alina Habba announced she is stepping down from her role as top prosecutor in New Jersey after an appellate court found that Attorney General Pam Bondi had improperly appointed her as U.S. attorney.
Bondi also announced Habba would serve as the attorney general’s senior adviser, while three Department of Justice officials would take on additional jobs overseeing various activities in the New Jersey court district in the wake of Habba’s exit.
Habba served as President Donald Trump’s personal defense lawyer before the president installed her this year as the temporary head of the New Jersey office.
Once Habba’s term expired, the administration took a series of unconventional steps to attempt to reinstate her, however a three-judge panel found last week that federal vacancy laws did not permit Trump and the DOJ to sidestep the Senate confirmation process to keep Habba in charge.
Fox News reports that the DOJ plans to delegate the U.S. attorney responsibilities in New Jersey to three separate officials, Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox and Ari Fontecchio.
“I have full confidence in each of these exceptional attorneys and look forward to our continued collaboration as we make New Jersey and America safe again,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
She didn’t have a choice based upon an appointment technicality.