The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that Desiree Leigh Grace was dismissed from her position as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. This decision occurred just hours after federal judges in the state selected her over the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, Alina Habba.
This announcement followed the judges’ refusal to confirm Habba, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, for the role of the state’s top federal prosecutor on a long-term basis. In March, Trump had appointed Habba as the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
Attorney General Pam Bondi made it clear why Grace was fired by stating, “This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges—especially when they challenge the President’s fundamental Article II powers,” sharing her statement on the platform X.
Grace was Habba’s first assistant before district judges elevated her to the top job, setting up Habba’s ouster.
Habba was awaiting Senate confirmation when her 120-day term as acting U.S. attorney expired this week.
Previous Justice Departments have recognized that district judges have the authority to name a United States attorney if the president’s nominee is not acted upon by the U.S. Senate within 120 days.
It’s unclear if the Trump Justice Department now believes it can bypass that process.
Grace, a nine-year career prosecutor, previously ran the New Jersey office’s criminal division.
Habba served as Trump’s legal spokesperson in several cases after he left the White House in 2021.
When Trump reassumed the presidency this year, she was one of at least four of his defense attorneys to be named to posts in his administration, including Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and John Sauer.
“Alina is President Trump’s choice to lead,” Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said on social media after the judges announced Grace’s promotion earlier Tuesday. “No partisan bench can override that.”
In her tenure as acting U.S. attorney, Habba made a mark in politically charged cases, bringing prosecutions against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, both Democrats.
She also challenged New Jersey State Police over sanctuary policies related to immigration enforcement.
