President Trump’s decision regarding Alina Haba, the federal prosecutor in New Jersey, was announced on Thursday. Despite a court ruling not to extend her provisional position, Haba stated she would continue in her role, asserting that she is now the U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
In her first comment following the ruling, Haba emphasized her current role. “Donald J. Trump is the 47th President. Pam Bondy is the Attorney General. And I am currently a U.S. lawyer for the New Jersey area,” she declared. Haba made it clear that her focus is on justice, stating, “I will not put any pressure on you. I will not answer politics. This is a fight for justice. And I will be in everything.”
According to Justice Department officials, Trump has rescinded her appointment, naming her as the first U.S. attorney instead.
This development came shortly after Desiree Grace, who had been selected by the U.S. District Court to take over for Haba, expressed her readiness for the position and seemed to escalate the situation.
The court’s earlier decision, issued on Tuesday, included a standing order that did not extend Haba’s tenure beyond a 120-day trial period. Haba’s chief assistant, Grace, was appointed to carry out the role indefinitely following a personal vote on Monday.
Haba’s brief time in office had its share of controversy, particularly after two Democratic officials faced criminal charges related to immigration enforcement under her leadership.
In response to the court’s decision, Attorney General Pam Bondy dismissed Grace. Earlier on Thursday, Grace, in a LinkedIn post, remarked that she had been appointed “on merit” and was prepared to accept the role “according to the law.”
“I served under both Republican and Democrat administrations,” Grace noted, highlighting that she has received four promotions in the last five years, the latest just months prior to this administration. While she acknowledged shifts in priorities and resources, she insisted that the work and mission have remained stable.
The simultaneous announcements hint at ongoing leadership changes within the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office. However, since Haba is actively serving, it seems that Grace may not be able to assume her new position after all.
Recently, the Trump administration also found a way around a judicial ruling concerning another presidential appointment. A U.S. District Court judge in Upstate New York had declined to extend John Salcone III’s interim term, yet to sidestep this, Salcone was assigned as Bondi’s “special lawyer,” effectively granting him indefinite powers akin to a U.S. attorney.
