The Trump administration has found a way to keep MAGA star Alina Habba as the top prosecutor in New Jersey after she was nearly forced out of the role by "rogue" judges in the blue state.
The dramatic reversal came just a day before Habba's term as interim U.S. attorney was set to expire. The state's judges tried to replace her with their own pick, career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace.
“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 Thursday.
“I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics,” Habba said. "This is a fight for justice. And I’m all in."
President Trump had initially picked Habba as interim U.S. attorney in March, giving her 120 days to serve without Senate confirmation. Her appointment was left in limbo as Democrats in Congress refused to support her.
When New Jersey's federal judges declined to extend Habba's tenure and instead chose Grace, Habba's assistant, the Trump administration responded with defiance.
The Justice Department quickly fired Grace -- as Attorney General Pam Bondi accused "rogue" courts of stepping on Trump's authority over the DOJ.
"This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges -- especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers," Bondi wrote.
Despite being fired, Grace had vowed to take on the role, but the administration found a way to block her.
The White House withdrew Habba's nomination and had her appointed as acting U.S. attorney, effectively rewinding the clock on her appointment.
According to DOJ officials, Habba technically replaced Grace as first assistant U.S. attorney, which automatically makes Habba the top prosecutor, since the U.S. attorney position is vacant. Habba now has at least 210 days to serve in the role.
Democrats made their preference in prosecutor clear, defending Grace, a Republican, as a "career public servant" who would faithfully uphold the law.
Habba became known as an attorney for Trump during the Democrats' "lawfare" campaign that sought to derail his 2024 presidential bid. She has no prior prosecutorial experience.
A staunch supporter of the president and his agenda, Habba has used her tenure in New Jersey to pursue Democrat politicians who obstructed immigration enforcement at a Newark detention facility.
"President Trump continues to have full confidence in Alina Habba and her commitment to serve the people of New Jersey," the White House said in a statement.
