Judge says Haba is illegally working as a U.S. attorney in New Jersey
A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Alina Haba was illegally serving as U.S. attorney.
Unbranded – Newsworthy
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court reprimanded the Republican president on Dec. 1, ruling that Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Alina Haba was illegally appointed as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor and a panel disqualified her from overseeing the case.
The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals was the latest blow to President Trump and the Justice Department as it seeks to install a champion to oversee major federal prosecutor’s offices across the country.
The Third Circuit upheld U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann’s August ruling that the Trump administration violated federal appointment law by appointing Haba as New Jersey’s acting attorney.
“It is clear that the current administration is frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to securing appointees,” Judge D. Michael Fisher wrote in his decision. “The company’s efforts to promote Alina Haba, a candidate for U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, to the position of acting U.S. attorney demonstrate the difficulties the company has faced.”
The ruling is likely to affect a number of ongoing federal criminal cases in New Jersey, forcing the Justice Department to find new prosecutors to oversee those cases. The administration may appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
