New Jersey's top prosecutor steps down in the wake of appeals court disqualifies her.
The former personal attorney for Donald Trump has resigned as the US Attorney for New Jersey. This decision was prompted by a legal ruling that questioned her eligibility to occupy the role.
Attorney General's Statement
The nation's top law enforcement official, the Attorney General, announced her stepping down on Monday. She commented that the judicial decision made it impossible for her to effectively run her office.
"Let no one confuse following the order as giving up," Habba stated. "This battle will now stretch across the country."
Legal Background
Her resignation follows closely on a US appeals court ruled that she had been serving in violation of the law as the top prosecutor. This ruling is could influence numerous legal proceedings in the state.
The judicial panel said that a interim role that did not receive Senate approval ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
Next Steps and Responses
The Attorney General added that the former prosecutor will stay on at the justice department as a high-level advisor. Habba plans to pursue additional appeals of the court's action, in the hope of achieving a different outcome.
Writing online, the Attorney General argued that the court "must not override the President's choice of attorneys tasked with carrying out the executive branch's core responsibility of criminal prosecution."
Accomplishments Cited
The attorney general highlighted the prosecutor's work and noted that under her leadership, the state capital of Newark saw a significant drop in crime. She also stated that the Camden experienced its initial homicide-free summer since 1974 free from homicides.
Legal Career
Habba, 41, was initially recruited to Donald Trump's lawyers in recent years. Subsequently, she defended Trump in his business records case in 2024, which resulted in his guilty verdict on dozens of charges of falsifying business records.
Prior to assuming the top New Jersey post, Trump had revealed he was naming her as his senior adviser if re-elected, calling the lawyer as deeply loyal and a "tireless advocate for justice".
