New Jersey federal judges sideline Alina Habba as top prosecutor, Trump’s DOJ ousts her replacement– www.cbsnews.com
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Federal judges in New Jersey invoked a rarely used judiciary power to sideline interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, installing her top assistant as the state’s top federal prosecutor — but hours later, the Trump administration responded by ousting Habba’s deputy.
President Trump installed Habba, who had served as his personal attorney, on March 24 in an interim capacity. An appointee can lead a U.S. attorney’s office for up to 120 days pending Senate confirmation. Habba was not formally nominated for the role until July 1 and has not been confirmed.
The state’s district judges voted to replace her. Chief Judge Renée Bumb wrote in an order Tuesday that they appointed Habba’s first assistant, longtime prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace, to the role.
Hours later, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department had “removed” Grace, accusing “rogue judges” of “threatening” the president’s constitutional powers.
A Justice Department official told CBS News that Grace is no longer with the department.