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The ex-lawyer for the former president has stepped down as the chief federal prosecutor in the state. This follows a court battle that invalidated her legal standing to serve.

Attorney General's Statement

The head of the Justice Department, the Attorney General, confirmed her stepping down on the start of the week. In a statement that the court's "flawed" ruling made it "untenable" for the official to lead the department effectively.

"But do not mistake following the order as giving up," she declared. "The effort will now extend throughout America."

Court Ruling

The departure was triggered by a judicial panel ruled that she had been unlawfully serving as the federal prosecutor. This ruling is expected to impact many prosecutions in New Jersey.

The judicial panel ruled that a temporary posting that did not receive Senate approval violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Future Role and Reaction

The Attorney General added that Habba will remain at the DOJ as a high-level advisor. They intend to pursue additional appeals of the disqualification, aiming for a different outcome.

Writing online, she argued that the court "must not second-guess the appointment of lawyers tasked with executing the primary duty of the administration of criminal prosecution."

Performance in Office

The attorney general praised her tenure and pointed out that under her leadership, the state capital of Newark saw a significant drop in offenses. Additionally that the southern city of Camden had its first summer in half a century free from homicides.

Connection to Donald Trump

Habba, 41, first joined Donald Trump's lawyers in recent years. She later defended Trump in his hush-money trial in the previous year, leading to his conviction on 34 counts of financial record manipulation.

Before her appointment to the federal prosecutor position, Donald Trump had stated he was naming her as his senior adviser during his second administration, calling Habba as deeply loyal and a "tireless advocate for justice".