Trump’s DOJ Sidesteps Norms to Boost Ally Alina Habba as US Attorney

Alina HabbaPhotographer: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg

President Donald Trump’s administration sidestepped tradition this week and criticized judges who sought to bypass his ally as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey — a pattern that may repeat itself in other Democratic-leaning states.

The actions of the Justice Department to shield interim US Attorney Alina Habba, Trump’s former personal attorney, could foreshadow other fights over chief federal prosecutors holding temporary posts in blue states like California, New York and Nevada.