Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
NEW: The White House says Trump has fired the court-appointed U.S. attorney that NJ judges appointed [View all]
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/29/new-jersey-us-attorney-alina-habba-donald-trump-00481846President Donald Trump moved to fire the career federal prosecutor New Jersey judges picked to be acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, according to court records filed Tuesday.
The Department of Justice revealed Trump’s decision in an email filed with a federal judge in Pennsylvania, who is preparing to weigh in on an escalating fight between the Trump administration and the federal bench in New Jersey.
The filing underscores Trump’s direct involvement in a bid to keep his former personal attorney, Alina Habba, as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, despite the expiration last week of her 120-day tenure as interim U.S. attorney and New Jersey judges selecting prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace to serve in Habba’s place. Trump recently withdrew Habba’s nomination to the Senate for the post, part of an unusual maneuver to bypass the judges’ selection and keep Habba in the role on a longer-term but still temporary basis.
Trump’s workaround is now creating uncertainty across the federal criminal justice system in New Jersey.
A defense attorney, Thomas Mirigliano, is trying to get 2024 drug and gun charges against his client thrown out by arguing the Trump administration’s maneuvering was irregular and unconstitutional. The case, which is now pending before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann, an Obama appointee based in Pennsylvania, challenges Habba’s authority to run the office and prosecute criminal cases.
The Department of Justice revealed Trump’s decision in an email filed with a federal judge in Pennsylvania, who is preparing to weigh in on an escalating fight between the Trump administration and the federal bench in New Jersey.
The filing underscores Trump’s direct involvement in a bid to keep his former personal attorney, Alina Habba, as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, despite the expiration last week of her 120-day tenure as interim U.S. attorney and New Jersey judges selecting prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace to serve in Habba’s place. Trump recently withdrew Habba’s nomination to the Senate for the post, part of an unusual maneuver to bypass the judges’ selection and keep Habba in the role on a longer-term but still temporary basis.
Trump’s workaround is now creating uncertainty across the federal criminal justice system in New Jersey.
A defense attorney, Thomas Mirigliano, is trying to get 2024 drug and gun charges against his client thrown out by arguing the Trump administration’s maneuvering was irregular and unconstitutional. The case, which is now pending before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann, an Obama appointee based in Pennsylvania, challenges Habba’s authority to run the office and prosecute criminal cases.
JUST IN: The Trump administration says Leigh Grace should never be U.S. attorney for New Jersey, but just in case, Trump has fired her from the position.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) 2025-07-29T16:28:33.166Z
NEW: The White House says Trump has fired the court-appointed U.S. attorney that NJ judges appointed to succeed Alina Habba.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) 2025-07-29T17:53:27.221Z
They say the judicial appointee — Leigh Grace — never actually had the job, but just in case, she's fired anyway.
w/ @ryrivard.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read