TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump has appointed Alina Habba, his former defense attorney and current White House counselor, to serve as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey. This announcement was made on Monday, coinciding with Habba’s 41st birthday.
Habba succeeds John Giordano, the incumbent interim U.S. attorney, whom Trump has selected to become the U.S. ambassador to Namibia, a country situated in southwest Africa. A partner in a small law firm located near Trump's Bedminster golf course, Habba has previously acted as a senior adviser for Trump's political action committee. She has also defended the president in various civil lawsuits and served as a spokesperson during his transition between legal battles and campaign activities.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Habba stated her commitment to collaborate with Attorney General Pam Bondi in advancing the administration's agenda aimed at "putting America first" and targeting individuals deemed priority for prosecution. In her remarks, she criticized Democratic leaders, including Senator Cory Booker and Governor Phil Murphy, accusing them of neglecting pressing issues within the state.
Habba pointed out the crime situation in cities like Newark and Camden, stating that New Jersey has faced neglect and needs to address its rising crime rates. "If you look at what happened in crime, what’s going on in Newark, what’s going on in Camden, this has been a neglected state," she asserted. Habba’s comments come in the context of Camden officials announcing earlier this year that violent crime rates have reached a 55-year low, attributed to efforts by the county police department, while Newark reported a decrease in homicides but an increase in other crime levels in 2024.
Throughout her legal career, Habba has been a prominent spokesperson for Trump, frequently appearing on cable news as his legal representative. Notably, she represented Trump in the 2024 defamation case involving E. Jean Carroll. However, her experience in federal court has been limited as her practice has predominantly occurred in state-level courts. During the Carroll trial, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan criticized her for procedural errors and misstatements of the law.
John Giordano, the outgoing interim U.S. attorney, had been sworn in earlier this month. His career experience includes serving as a counselor to the assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division and as a federal prosecutor in Virginia.
This appointment marks a significant development in New Jersey's federal law enforcement landscape, potentially influencing how the state's legal priorities align with the Trump administration's overall objectives. Habba's commitment to tackling crime and her previous association with the administration will likely shape her approach as she takes on her new responsibilities.
