In a stunning move that’s raising eyebrows across legal and political circles, President Donald Trump has appointed Alina Habba, his former personal attorney, as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
The announcement came Monday via Trump’s TruthSocial platform, where he praised Habba’s “diligence and conviction” and vowed she would “fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both ‘Fair and Just.’”
Who Is Alina Habba?
Habba, 41, rose to national prominence not through government service but as a relentless defender of Trump during his most embattled legal years. A former civil litigator from New Jersey, she joined Trump’s inner circle after becoming a member of his Bedminster golf club. She went on to represent him in lawsuits against The New York Times, Mary Trump, and Hillary Clinton, as well as defamation suits linked to sexual misconduct allegations.
Most notably, Habba was fined alongside Trump for filing what a federal judge called a “completely frivolous” lawsuit against Clinton and others — resulting in a $1 million sanction.
Critics Call Appointment ‘Blatant Cronyism’
Legal experts and political commentators have blasted the appointment as a conflict of interest and a threat to the independence of the U.S. Justice Department. “This is not about qualifications; this is about loyalty,” said one former federal prosecutor. “She defended Trump in court, and now she’ll wield prosecutorial power? That’s not justice – it’s favoritism.”
The backlash is particularly sharp given Habba’s recent role as Trump’s White House Counsel following his November 2024 reelection – a position critics say was more political than legal.
What’s Next for New Jersey’s Justice System?
Habba replaces interim U.S. Attorney John Giordano, who has been tapped to serve as ambassador to Namibia. Her first major case? Leading the federal prosecution of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate accused of inciting campus unrest and facing deportation.
Her office is now tasked with enforcing federal law in one of the most politically sensitive states in the nation – a state where Trump has repeatedly clashed with local prosecutors.
Habba Responds: ‘We Will End the Weaponization of Justice’
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Habba wrote: “Just like I did during my time as President Trump’s personal attorney, I will continue to fight for truth and justice. We will end the weaponization of justice, once and for all.”
Critics point out that this rhetoric mirrors Trump’s post-election promises to “clean house” in the DOJ, raising fresh concerns about political purges and loyalty tests within the federal legal system.
People Also Ask
- Who is Alina Habba? – A former personal lawyer to Donald Trump, now appointed interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.
- Why is her appointment controversial? – Habba has no prosecutorial experience and previously represented Trump in multiple personal legal cases.
- What are critics saying? – Legal experts are calling the move cronyism and warning it could politicize federal prosecutions.
- What major cases will she oversee? – Her office is set to prosecute Mahmoud Khalil and lead broader federal law enforcement efforts in New Jersey.
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