The ex-lawyer for the former president has left her position as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor. This decision was prompted by a legal ruling that questioned her right to occupy the role.
Official Departure
The nation's top law enforcement official, Pam Bondi, announced Habba's resignation on the start of the week. In a statement that the judicial decision made it "untenable" for the official to lead the department effectively.
"Let no one confuse compliance for surrender," she wrote. "The effort will now reach across America."
Court Ruling
The departure comes a week after a US appeals court determined that she had been unlawfully serving as US attorney. This ruling is could influence scores of prosecutions in New Jersey.
The court ruled that a temporary posting that did not receive the advice and consent of the Senate breached the federal law governing appointments.
Next Steps and Responses
Bondi said that the former prosecutor will stay on at the DOJ as a top consultant. Habba plans to seek further review of the disqualification, with hopes of a reversal.
On a social media platform, Bondi wrote that the judiciary "cannot be permitted to second-guess the appointment of attorneys entrusted with performing the primary duty of the administration of prosecuting crime."
Accomplishments Cited
She praised the prosecutor's work and pointed out that during her run, the Newark saw a 20% reduction in offenses. She also stated that the city of Camden recorded its initial homicide-free summer since 1974 without a homicide.
Background and Previous Role
Habba, was initially recruited to the former president's legal defense in recent years. She later represented the former president in his hush-money trial in 2024, leading to his guilty verdict on dozens of charges of falsifying business records.
Before her appointment to the federal prosecutor position, the former president had announced he was appointing her as his White House advisor if re-elected, labeling the lawyer as "unwavering in her loyalty" and a "tireless advocate for justice".
