BREAKING: Alina Habba Resigns -

Trump Loyalist Alina Habba Resigns as New Jersey U.S. Attorney Amid Court Battle, Takes Senior DOJ Role with Vow of Return

Washington, D.C. — Alina Habba, the former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, announced her resignation Monday as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. The move comes just days after a federal appeals court ruled her appointment unlawful, prompting accusations of judicial overreach from top Justice Department officials.

Habba, a 41-year-old New Jersey native known for her fierce defense of Trump in high-profile civil cases including fraud allegations and E. Jean Carroll's defamation suit, stepped down "to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love," according to a defiant statement she posted on X. "Do not mistake compliance for surrender," she wrote. "This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me."The resignation caps a contentious nine-month saga that began in March when Attorney General Pam Bondi swore in Habba as interim U.S. Attorney during a White House ceremony presided over by Trump himself. Lacking prior federal prosecutorial experience and facing opposition from New Jersey's Democratic senators, Habba's initial 120-day term expired in July without Senate confirmation. The administration then employed a series of legal maneuvers—designating her a "special attorney" to the attorney general—to keep her in the role, sparking immediate challenges from defense attorneys in ongoing cases.

Those challenges culminated last week in a unanimous ruling from a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, which declared Habba's extended tenure a violation of federal vacancy laws. The court emphasized that such statutes prevent the executive branch from bypassing Senate oversight, writing that "the citizens of New Jersey and the loyal employees in the U.S. Attorney’s Office deserve some clarity and stability." The decision echoed similar disqualifications of acting U.S. Attorneys in Nevada and California's Central District, where indictments survived only because other prosecutors had signed off on them.

Bondi, in a joint statement with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also posted on X, lambasted the ruling as the product of "activist judges" and an "unconscionable campaign of bias and hostility" against Trump appointees. "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges—especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers," they wrote. Bondi vowed that the DOJ would seek further review, potentially up to the Supreme Court, and expressed confidence in a reversal. "Alina intends to return to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey if this occurs," the statement read.

In the interim, Habba will transition to a newly created position as Senior Advisor to the Attorney General for U.S. Attorneys, a role Bondi described as key to "helping drive the fight against violent crime nationwide." "My fight will now stretch across the country," Habba declared, signing off her resignation letter with a nod to her roots: "Make no mistake, you can take the girl out of New Jersey, but you cannot take New Jersey out of the girl."Habba's tenure, though brief and turbulent, was not without accomplishments touted by her supporters. The office under her watch reported reductions in major crimes, including a crackdown on gang activity and public corruption probes that drew praise from Trump allies. Critics, however, pointed to disruptions in the New Jersey federal courts—delayed sentencings, postponed trials, and confusion over case validity—as fallout from the legal standoff.

To fill the void in New Jersey, Bondi announced that duties would be delegated to three experienced DOJ officials: Philip R. Lamparello III, Jordan D. Fox, and Ari Fontecchio, all of whom will oversee specific prosecutorial functions. "I have full confidence in each of these exceptional attorneys," said Blanche.The episode highlights broader frictions in Trump's second term over "blue slip" traditions, where home-state senators' approval is customarily required for U.S. Attorney nominations—a practice the administration has sought to dismantle. Similar battles have arisen in other districts, including Virginia's Eastern District, where judges recently scrutinized filings by another interim appointee.

Habba's next chapter at DOJ positions her at the heart of national prosecutorial strategy, advising on appointments and priorities amid Trump's push for aggressive enforcement on issues like border security and election integrity. As one Trump advisor put it anonymously, "Alina's not going anywhere—she's just leveling up."The White House deferred comment to Bondi's office, while Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats called the resignation a "welcome step toward restoring the rule of law" in federal prosecutions. For now, all eyes are on the appeals process, with Habba's potential return hanging in the balance. 17GEN4.com