Habba, first appointed to the position on an interim basis in March, has just three weeks left before her term expires, necessitating a full-time appointment by the Senate or approval from New Jersey’s U.S. District Court judges pending confirmation.

New Jersey’s Senate delegation on Wednesday denounced Habba’s appointment to a full term as U.S. attorney in the state. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) slammed her monthslong performance as the Garden State’s top prosecutor in a statement. 

“The people of New Jersey deserve a US Attorney that has deep experience with law enforcement, a reputation and an approach that puts partisanship to the side, and who will work to keep our communities safe and impartially pursue justice,” their statement read. “In her short tenure as interim US Attorney, she has degraded the office and pursued frivolous and politically motivated prosecutions. It’s clear that Alina Habba does not meet the standard to serve the people of New Jersey.”

Before becoming the Garden State’s top prosecutor, Habba was Trump’s White House adviser and his attorney in several court cases. As one of his closest aides over the last several years, Habba catapulted into the national limelight while serving as Trump’s lawyer during his reelection campaign last year, representing him in cases such as the federal civil lawsuit brought by Michael Cohen and the New York civil fraud case in which Trump was ordered to pay over $350 million. 

After becoming counsel to Trump’s Save America PAC in 2023 and being named a campaign spokeswoman in 2024, Habba joined his inner legal circle as “counselor to the president” following his reelection victory. 

The interim U.S. attorney, a New Jersey native and founder of the New Jersey-based law firm Habba, Madaio & Associates, has been accused by Democrats of politicizing the justice system. 

Some of the controversy stems from remarks following her March appointment, when Habba hoped to “turn New Jersey red.”

“Hopefully, while I’m there, I can help that cause,” she said. 

Habba also triggered Democratic outrage when she brought charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for allegedly “assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement” after the congresswoman demonstrated against Immigration and Customs Enforcement at an ICE detention facility at Delaney Hall and had a physical confrontation with officers.

Habba also had Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrested when he demonstrated against ICE at the same facility in May, issuing charges against the official over accusations that he had “willingly chosen to disregard the law,” and “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself” from the ICE detention center.

Habba later dropped the misdemeanor charges of trespassing against Baraka “for the sake of moving forward.” However, the mayor is suing her in a lawsuit alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation. 

DOJ INDICTS FLORIDA MAN FOR THREATENING TO KILL ALINA HABBA

Habba has also been the target of death threats, with the Justice Department announcing last week it had charged a Florida man for making threats against the New Jersey prosecutor.

The Orlando suspect posted threatening messages, such as “Eliminate HABBA. 86 Traitor. Death penalty for all traitors” and “I HOPE YOU DIE A PAINFUL DEATH,” according to a DOJ press release.