After a Chaotic Start, a U.S. Attorney’s Time May Be Running Out

Eliyahu Weinstein’s legal team found themselves in an incredibly complex predicament. After their client had been granted clemency by President Donald Trump during his first term—shortening a 24-year prison term related to investment fraud—Weinstein found himself once again in legal jeopardy. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey brought forth new charges for a similar financial crime, and by late March, he had been found guilty at trial.

Despite the seriousness of the conviction and Weinstein’s status as a repeat offender, his attorneys were not without a strategy. They decided to approach the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, in the hopes of securing leniency during the sentencing phase, which is set to take place in September.

Remarkably, Ms. Habba agreed to a private meeting with Weinstein’s legal team—an uncommon gesture, especially given the case’s high profile. According to individuals familiar with the situation, prosecutors who had spent months working on Weinstein’s prosecution were excluded from the conversation. This decision sparked outrage among members of her office.

Alina Habba, a former attorney for Donald Trump and a well-known media figure, is one of the most visible among the new cohort of U.S. Attorneys appointed under President Trump’s administration. Her path to the position has been unconventional, and her leadership has proven polarizing.

Within the Justice Department, Habba has garnered attention for her assertive media presence and her tendency to pursue cases against Democratic political figures. However, her management style and perceived political motivations have reportedly damaged internal morale at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. In interviews with 16 individuals familiar with the office’s operations—all of whom requested anonymity out of concern for professional repercussions—many described an environment of frustration and disillusionment.

Upon assuming office, Habba reportedly emphasized her close ties to the White House. While she has publicly insisted that she operates in a nonpartisan manner, her actions have raised doubts. Prosecutors have grown uncomfortable with her openness toward defense attorneys and her abrupt decision to eliminate the Civil Rights Division—one of the office’s most historic and respected branches. Additionally, her cancellation of a longstanding criminal prosecution mere days before trial further fueled internal unrest. In what some viewed as a self-aggrandizing move, Habba also hung three framed portraits of herself in a conference room named for Frederick B. Lacey, a revered figure in New Jersey’s legal history.

Despite repeated requests, Habba’s press office declined to comment on these matters.

Nevertheless, her political connections have brought tangible benefits to the office. She secured authorization to hire 20 new staff members—an unusually large number for a U.S. Attorney’s Office—and has reminded employees of her efforts to recover back pay they were owed. However, these administrative victories may not be enough to prolong her tenure.

New Jersey’s two Democratic senators have strongly criticized Habba, declaring her unfit for the role due to what they describe as politicized prosecutions that have undermined the integrity of the office. This condemnation casts serious doubt on her chances of being confirmed by the Senate, especially after President Trump formally nominated her to serve permanently in the role. Meanwhile, federal judges in the state, who have the authority to extend her interim position beyond its expected expiration, are reportedly planning to meet soon to discuss her future.

At a recent staff meeting, according to individuals present, Habba appeared to accept the likelihood of her departure. She delivered an emotional farewell of sorts, acknowledging that judicial support was not guaranteed and that her term could be nearing its end.

A Meteoric Rise From Local Practice to National Spotlight

Just four years ago, Alina Habba was a relatively unknown attorney operating a small law practice not far from Trump’s Bedminster golf course, where she was also a member. A 2010 graduate of Widener Law School in Pennsylvania, Habba’s proximity to the Trump circle would soon prove pivotal to her career.

In 2021, an incident involving a club employee accused of sexually harassing a young waitress caught Trump’s attention. Habba played a key role in negotiating a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement and a $15,000 severance package for the woman, Alice Bianco. Not long afterward, Habba was brought on as Trump’s legal counsel in a defamation case filed by Summer Zervos, a former contestant on “The Apprentice.”

However, Habba’s conduct in the Bianco case later drew scrutiny. Nancy Erika Smith, Bianco’s lawyer, renegotiated the terms of the original settlement and submitted a complaint to New Jersey’s Office of Attorney Ethics. Smith accused Habba of improperly advising someone else’s client and of encouraging the signing of a legally questionable NDA. Bianco herself described Habba as someone who could be charming and persuasive when she stood to gain something.

Habba had little experience in criminal law or high-profile litigation before joining Trump’s legal team in 2021. But she quickly proved to be a fierce advocate, adopting an aggressive approach that appealed to the former president. She represented Trump in several civil cases, including defamation lawsuits brought by writer E. Jean Carroll and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Although Trump lost both cases—resulting in penalties exceeding half a billion dollars—Habba gained recognition for smaller courtroom victories, such as a successful defense against a suit by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.

Habba’s public profile grew further when she became involved in Trump’s 2024 campaign. Following her appointment as interim U.S. attorney, she openly expressed a desire to help “turn New Jersey red,” telling a conservative podcast that she hoped her office could assist in advancing that political goal.

Such comments heightened concerns among staff that Habba’s leadership was deeply partisan. Initially, some prosecutors held out hope that her bold approach might bring renewed energy or visibility to the office. But that optimism quickly waned.

One of her first major decisions was to drop charges in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case against two executives from Cognizant Technology Solutions. The case had alleged that the executives authorized bribes to facilitate business operations in India. Although the Justice Department in Washington had approved moving forward with the trial, Habba chose to dismiss the case after taking office, never fully explaining her reasoning to the prosecutors involved.

A spokesperson for one of the defendants, Steven Schwartz, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the DOJ had recognized the charges were unfounded.

Escalating Conflicts with Democratic Officials

The controversy surrounding Habba only intensified in April, when she initiated an investigation into New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew Platkin. The inquiry focused on a state policy that restricted cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Habba had signaled her intentions months earlier during a speech in which she named prominent Democrats and vowed to pursue them.

Additional tensions flared in May when three Democratic members of Congress visited an immigration detention center in Newark. They were joined outside by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, a gubernatorial hopeful. After a heated exchange with federal agents, Baraka was arrested.

Habba publicly asserted that Baraka had trespassed and declared on social media that “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.” However, just ten days later, she announced that the trespassing charge would be dropped. In the same statement, she revealed plans to pursue an assault charge against Representative LaMonica McIver, who had also been present during the altercation.

This decision came under further legal scrutiny. A federal judge criticized the prosecution for the “hasty” arrest and called the withdrawal of charges an embarrassment. The prosecutor responsible, Stephen J. Demanovich, has since left the office.

Sources say Habba took the decision to charge McIver seriously, reviewing hours of body camera footage and consulting with senior staff. But the incident only reinforced growing skepticism about her motives.

Perhaps most notably, Habba disbanded the Civil Rights Division—an unprecedented move in a state with a long history of civil rights challenges in law enforcement. The division’s leader, veteran prosecutor Michael Campion, resigned in protest, vowing to continue the fight for justice elsewhere.

His departure was followed by a wave of resignations and job searches by other staffers. In an effort to win them over, Habba began holding one-on-one meetings with prosecutors to discuss their future and present herself as a stabilizing force—if she were to remain.

At her recent staff meeting, she reiterated her desire to continue in the role and suggested that the office would regain its footing once the current upheaval subsided.

Whether that vision becomes reality remains uncertain.a and attention subsided, she told prosecutors, everyone could just get back to work.