Hakeem Jeffries Calls Alina Habba an “Unqualified Political Hack” and Demands Immediate Ouster as New Jersey U.S. Attorney

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries unleashed sharp criticism against Alina Habba on Monday, labeling her an “unqualified political hack and a complete disgrace” in her role overseeing federal prosecutions in New Jersey.

Jeffries, speaking out amid fresh legal turmoil, insisted it’s time for Habba to step down following a federal appeals court ruling that deemed her appointment invalid.

Alina Habba, once a close personal attorney to President Trump during his legal battles, stepped into the acting U.S. Attorney position for the District of New Jersey earlier this year. Her selection drew immediate scrutiny due to her lack of traditional prosecutorial experience and deep ties to Trump’s inner circle. Federal law typically requires Senate confirmation for such roles, but the administration pursued an interim path that courts later rejected.

The controversy escalated when Habba’s office pursued charges against Democratic lawmakers, including a New Jersey congresswoman accused of impeding federal agents during an immigration raid. Critics viewed those actions as politically motivated, given Habba’s history defending Trump in high-profile cases. Her tenure, now cut short, highlighted tensions between executive appointments and judicial oversight in the Justice Department.

It is true that a federal appeals court ruled on Monday that Habba has been serving unlawfully as U.S. Attorney, upholding a lower court’s decision that her installation violated constitutional requirements for the position. Jeffries’ description of her as unqualified aligns with the judges’ findings on her insufficient background in federal prosecution, though his “political hack” label reflects partisan frustration over her Trump connections rather than a legal determination. Earlier complaints against Jeffries for urging judges to intervene were dismissed as unfounded, underscoring the bipartisan pushback against what many see as cronyism in appointments.

Habba’s rapid rise and fall also exposed gaps in how interim officials operate without full vetting, potentially delaying key cases in a busy district handling everything from corruption probes to drug trafficking. While supporters praised her aggressive stance on border security, opponents argued it prioritized loyalty over impartiality, a divide that fueled the legal challenge from the start.

Media reporting for this story: 42% Left | 18% Right | 29% Center | 11% Unrated

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