New Jersey's top prosecutor resigns following appeals court rules against her.
Alina Habba has left her position as the US Attorney for New Jersey. This comes after a legal ruling that challenged her eligibility to serve.
Acceptance of Resignation
The head of the Justice Department, Pam Bondi, announced her stepping down on Monday. In a statement that the court's "flawed" ruling made it "untenable" for Habba to lead the department effectively.
"Do not interpret following the order as giving up," she wrote. "The effort will now stretch across the country."
Court Ruling
The departure comes a week after a federal appellate panel found that she had been acting without proper authority as the top prosecutor. This judgment is could influence scores of legal proceedings in the Garden State.
The appellate judges ruled that a acting appointment that skirted Senate approval ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
Future Role and Reaction
The Attorney General added that the former prosecutor will continue working within the DOJ as a high-level advisor. Habba plans to seek further review of the disqualification, in the hope of achieving a reversal.
In a statement, the Attorney General contended that judges "must not override the President's choice of attorneys responsible for carrying out the primary duty of the administration of prosecuting crime."
Accomplishments Cited
Bondi praised her tenure and noted that under her leadership, the Newark saw a significant drop in criminal activity. She also stated that the Camden recorded its initial homicide-free summer since 1974 free from homicides.
Connection to Donald Trump
The 41-year-old attorney, was initially recruited to Donald Trump's lawyers in recent years. She later defended her client in his New York criminal case in New York last year, when he was conviction on multiple felony counts of financial record manipulation.
Earlier, Habba took on the role of US Attorney, Trump had stated he was naming her as his senior adviser if re-elected, describing the lawyer as "unwavering in her loyalty" and a dedicated fighter for justice.
