Trump's former lawyer leaves her post following judicial rules against her.
The ex-lawyer for the former president has stepped down as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor. This comes after a court battle that questioned her eligibility to hold the office.
Attorney General's Statement
The head of the Justice Department, Pam Bondi, accepted her stepping down on Monday. In a statement that the judicial decision made it "untenable" for the official to lead the department effectively.
"But do not mistake following the order as giving up," she declared. "My fight will now stretch across the nation."
Judicial Challenge
Her resignation was triggered by a US appeals court found that she had been acting without proper authority as US attorney. This judgment is likely to affect numerous legal proceedings in the Garden State.
The appellate judges declared that a temporary posting that bypassed confirmation by the US Senate violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
Next Steps and Responses
The Attorney General added that the former prosecutor will continue working within the justice department as a high-level advisor. She will seek further review of the court's action, with hopes of a reversal.
In a statement, the Attorney General argued that judges "cannot be permitted to second-guess the executive's selection of lawyers responsible for carrying out the executive branch's core responsibility of enforcing the law."
Record and Legacy
She praised her tenure and noted that during her run, the state capital of Newark saw a 20% reduction in criminal activity. It was also reported that the city of Camden experienced its first summer in half a century without a homicide.
Connection to Donald Trump
Habba, first joined Trump's personal legal team in 2021. She later defended the former president in his business records case in 2024, when he was guilty verdict on dozens of charges of document fraud.
Prior to Habba took on the top New Jersey post, Trump had announced he was naming her as his senior adviser if re-elected, calling her as deeply loyal and a dedicated fighter for justice.
