The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the individual selected to succeed Alina Habba as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, just hours after federal district court judges opted to install her chief deputy in the role.
In a statement shared on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi praised Habba, a lawyer originally from New Jersey, for her effective efforts in enhancing public safety in the state. Bondi noted that despite Habba’s strong performance, certain judges with political motivations had blocked her from continuing in the position.
As a result, Bondi announced, “the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed.” She emphasized that the DOJ will not permit “rogue judges” to operate unchecked, particularly when their actions infringe on the President’s constitutional authority under Article II.
This development follows a vote by the judges to substitute Habba with Desiree Grace, who had been serving as her first assistant, coinciding with the expiration of Habba’s 120-day interim tenure. Grace, a Republican, has been a federal prosecutor since 2016 and was previously the chief of the criminal division at the time of her elevation to first assistant.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reacted to Bondi’s post by asserting that the New Jersey district judges’ decision was driven by politics rather than legal principles. He accused them of ousting President Trump’s nominee, Alina Habba, and appointing her deputy instead, while allegedly coordinating with New Jersey’s senators. Blanche stated that this maneuver would fail, and under the President’s authority, the deputy had been terminated immediately.