DOJ Fires NJ Prosecutor Who Replaced Trump Ally Habba

It’s not apparent whether Grace’s removal would prevent her from assuming the role of New Jersey’s U.S. attorney. The court named her in a standing order as Habba’s successor, though it’s unclear whether the judges could enforce the appointment — or if anyone but Trump himself can fire her.

Habba took over as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor in March, after working in the White House as a counselor to the president and, before that, as Trump’s legal spokesperson and a senior adviser to his campaign.

Her profile rocketed amid her legal defense of Trump in high-profile civil cases, including her representing him in his business fraud case and the defamation and sexual assault lawsuits brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. It cemented her profile as a staunch defender of the president in the courtroom and the press.

She quickly came under scrutiny as U.S. attorney, namely for her arrests and charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) stemming from an incident at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

A trespassing charge against Baraka was dropped, but McIver is still fighting three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with a federal officer, to which she pleaded not guilty. Baraka has sued Habba for damages over his arrest.