Trump pulls nomination of former personal lawyer as US attorney but keeps her in acting role
Federal judges had declined to extend Habba’s tenure, appointing First Assistant Desiree Leigh Grace as successor, but Trump's team bypasses this move
ISTANBUL
US President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew the nomination of his former personal defense lawyer as New Jersey US attorney but allowed her to continue serving in an acting capacity, bypassing the need for congressional approval, at least for a time.
Alina Habba’s term as interim US attorney for New Jersey was set to expire Friday, ending her 120-day appointment made by Trump in March.
Federal judges in the state declined to extend her tenure and named First Assistant US Attorney Desiree Leigh Grace as her replacement.
Following Grace’s appointment, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Grace had been removed as first assistant US attorney and criticized the judges for bypassing Habba for the role.
Later, a Justice Department official clarified that Trump had withdrawn Habba’s nomination for permanent US attorney, instead naming her first assistant US attorney, automatically making her acting US attorney under department rules due to the vacancy.
“Donald J. Trump is the 47th President. Pam Bondi is the Attorney General. And I am now the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey,” Habba wrote on X.
“I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics. This is a fight for justice. And I’m all in,” she added.
When a controversial nomination fails to win congressional approval, Trump then appoints that person in an acting capacity, a move that has a time limit. When that limit is reached, he makes that person an assistant, triggering their automatic jump into the top slot.
