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The resignation of Alina Habba, former personal attorney for President Donald Trump, as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has created significant uncertainty within the office. Habba stepped down on Monday following an appeals court ruling that found her appointment unlawful.
Habba announced her resignation in a statement, saying she was stepping down to "protect the stability and integrity" of the office. She emphasized that her decision was not a surrender and stated, "This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me" according to NPR. Despite her resignation, Habba will continue to serve as a senior advisor to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The legal challenges surrounding Habba's appointment began after a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit panel ruled that her appointment violated the law. The court found that the Trump administration's maneuvers to install her without Senate confirmation were unlawful. The ruling has caused disruptions in legal proceedings in New Jersey, with many cases put on hold as reported by CNN.
Attorney General Bondi criticized the court's decision, claiming it undermined the President's authority to appoint U.S. attorneys. She stated that the Department of Justice would seek further review of the ruling and expressed confidence in its reversal. The Justice Department announced that Habba's duties would be divided among three individuals until a permanent replacement is appointed as noted by Axios.
The situation has left the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey in a state of flux, with ongoing uncertainty about who will permanently fill the role. The legal challenges faced by Habba are part of a broader issue, as similar rulings have affected other U.S. attorneys appointed by the Trump administration.
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