TRENTON, N.J. – President Donald Trump on Monday named his one-time protection lawyer and present White Home counselor Alina Habba to be the highest federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
Habba, who turns 41 Tuesday, takes over the interim submit from John Giordano, whom the president mentioned he is naming to be the U.S. ambassador for the southwestern African nation of Namibia.
A companion in a small New Jersey regulation agency close to Trump’s Bedminster golf course, Habba served as a senior adviser for Trump’s political motion committee, defended him in courtroom in a number of civil lawsuits and acted as a spokesperson final 12 months as he volleyed between courtrooms and the marketing campaign path.
Habba mentioned she appeared forwards to working with Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi to pursue the president’s agenda of “placing America first,” and going after the individuals “we needs to be going after.” She criticized Democrats Sen. Cory Booker and Gov. Phil Murphy for his or her stewardship of the state.
“In the event you have a look at what occurred in crime, what’s happening in Newark, what’s happening in Camden, this has been a uncared for state. It is among the most populated states for its dimension and it must cease. We’re gonna do a bang up job,” Habba mentioned Monday.
Spokespeople for Booker and Murphy didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Camden officers mentioned earlier this 12 months that violent crime charges reached a 55-year low, crediting the county police division. Officers in Newark, the state’s largest metropolis, mentioned late final 12 months that murder charges had fallen however different crime ranges had elevated in 2024.
Habba was considered one of Trump’s most seen protection attorneys, showing on cable TV information as his “authorized spokesperson.” She represented Trump in 2024 within the defamation case involving E. Jean Carroll.
However Habba has had restricted federal courtroom expertise, training primarily in state-level courts. Through the Carroll trial, Choose Lewis A. Kaplan chided Habba for botching process, misstating the regulation asking about off-limits subjects and objecting after he dominated.
Giordano was sworn in as New Jersey’s interim U.S. lawyer earlier this month. He beforehand served as a counselor to the assistant lawyer basic for the Setting and Pure Assets Division. Giordano additionally served as a federal prosecutor in Virginia.
___
Related Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert in Washington and Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
