Alina Habba, the new interim US attorney for New Jersey, talks to reporters outside the White House on March 24, 2025, in Washington. Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump has appointed Alina Habba, his personal attorney, as the interim US attorney for New Jersey. She will take over from John Giordano, who Trump plans to nominate as the ambassador to Namibia.
Trump praised Habba’s dedication, saying she would work tirelessly to ensure the justice system in New Jersey is “fair and just.” He expressed confidence that she would lead with the same determination she showed while representing him in court.
Speaking outside the White House, Habba said she is committed to tackling corruption and crime in New Jersey. She criticized the state’s leadership, naming Senator Cory Booker and Governor Phil Murphy, for neglecting public safety. “There’s too much crime in Newark and Camden, and it needs to stop,” she said.
When asked if she would target specific politicians, Habba did not give a clear answer but said she was ready to take on anyone responsible for corruption. She did not confirm whether she had any political ambitions in New Jersey.
Habba also stated she looks forward to working with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice. She emphasized her dedication to supporting Trump’s “America First” agenda by focusing on real criminals instead of people “falsely accused.”
In a post on X, Habba said she was honored by the appointment and promised to fight for “truth and justice.” She vowed to end what she described as the “weaponization of justice” in New Jersey.
Habba became well-known in Trump’s circle after representing him in high-profile legal battles. She previously worked in private practice in New Jersey, focusing on civil and commercial cases. She gained Trump’s attention through their shared membership at his Bedminster golf club.
Her legal career with Trump included representing him in a $100 million lawsuit against The New York Times and his niece, Mary Trump, which was dismissed. She also defended him in a defamation case brought by Summer Zervos, a former contestant on The Apprentice, who accused Trump of sexual assault. Zervos later dropped the case.
However, not all her cases ended favorably. When she filed a lawsuit accusing Hillary Clinton and others of conspiring against Trump, the judge dismissed it, calling it a misuse of the court system. The judge fined Trump and Habba nearly $1 million for the lawsuit.
Habba also became a public defender of Trump during his criminal indictments and regularly appeared alongside him in his civil fraud trial. Her firm has reportedly received $3.6 million from Trump’s political action committees for her legal services.
Trump described Habba as a “fierce defender of the rule of law” and praised her loyalty and resolve. He said she remained by his side through many legal battles and court cases, making her a natural fit for the new role.
