President Donald Trump rewarded another one of his former criminal defense lawyers with a plum position in the federal government.
The president announced Monday morning that he was tapping Alina Habba, who represented him in multiple criminal and civil cases before his re-election, to serve as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, where she first met him after joining his Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in 2019.
"It is with great pleasure that I am announcing Alina Habba, Esq., who is currently serving as Counselor to the President, and has represented me for a long time, will be our interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, her Home State, effective immediately!" Trump posted on Truth Social.
"Alina will lead with the same diligence and conviction that has defined her career, and she will fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both 'Fair and Just' for the wonderful people of New Jersey," he added.
Habba will replace John Giordano, the current interim U.S. Attorney for the state whom he nominated as the next ambassador to Namibia.
"Congratulations to Alina and John!" Trump posted.
Habba quickly thanked the president for her nomination with a post on X.
"Time to make New Jersey great again!" she posted. "LET’S ROLL."
Other social media users pointed out her track record and questionable qualifications for the role.
"Trump names his personal lawyer Alina Habba the interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey," posted Guardian reporter Hugo Lowell. "Habba previously represented Trump in the New York civil cases where he was ordered to pay $450m for inflating his net worth and $83m for defaming E Jean Carroll."
"Alina Habba will likely be the first US Attorney to be a self-described 'big fan' of alleged human trafficker Andrew Tate," said The Bulwark's Will Sommer.
"God help New Jersey," added journalist Mona Burns. "Alina Habba certainly isn't capable of it But who cares, right? It's all about paying back favors."
"Alina Habba has done quite well by Trump," said Forbes investigative reporter Zach Everson. "From May 2024: 'Previously Obscure Attorney Lands Big Payday Representing Trump In High-Profile Lawsuits.'"
