Alina Habba, former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, has resigned as acting US attorney for New Jersey after a federal appeals court ruled that she had been serving unlawfully. Habba announced her resignation via X, saying she stepped down “to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love.” She added: “But do not mistake compliance for surrender. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me.”The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by US District Judge Matthew Brann, who had found that the Trump administration violated federal appointments law when naming Habba as acting US attorney. Brann disqualified her from participating in ongoing cases, creating a legal standoff that delayed proceedings in New Jersey’s federal courts.Habba’s departure is the latest setback for Trump and his Justice Department as they attempt to place loyalists in key US attorney positions. Her appointment had been challenged by multiple criminal defendants, and her limited federal court experience, along with opposition from New Jersey’s Democratic senators, made Senate confirmation unlikely. Attorney General Pam Bondi also announced her resignation on X and described Habba’s resignation as “particularly unfortunate” and blamed the court for making her position “untenable.” Bondi praised Habba’s work and said her contributions to reducing crime in Camden and Newark are notable. Bondi confirmed that Habba would remain in the Justice Department as a senior adviser to the attorney general. Bondi also said the department would continue to appeal the court ruling and were positive that Habba could return to her role if the decision is reversed. 41-year-old Habba had gained national attention as one of Trump’s strongest legal defenders, frequently appearing on television and representing him in high-profile cases. She was appointed acting US attorney in March and served a temporary term enforcing federal criminal and civil law. Her resignation follows months of controversy over the legality of her appointment and her role in overseeing prosecutions.Her exit raises questions about the GOP administration’s approach to installing loyalists in key Justice Department positions. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused judges of bias in similar cases involving other Trump-appointed prosecutors and vowed to continue legal challenges to restore their appointments.
