TRENTON, N.J. — On Monday, President Donald Trump announced the appointment of his former defense attorney and current White House advisor, Alina Habba, as the chief federal prosecutor for New Jersey. Habba, who celebrates her 41st birthday on Tuesday, succeeds John Giordano. President Trump has also declared that he will be appointing Giordano as the U.S. ambassador to Namibia, a nation located in southwestern Africa.
Habba, currently a partner at a small New Jersey law firm near Trump’s Bedminster golf club, has served as a senior advisor for Trump’s political action committee. Over recent years, she has not only defended Trump in several civil lawsuit cases, but also took on the role of a spokesperson, balancing between legal battles and campaign activities.
U.S. attorneys often have prior experience as prosecutors, dealing within state or local frameworks. Many of the acting U.S. attorneys in Brooklyn and Manhattan come from roles within their respective jurisdictions.
Expressing excitement about her new role, Habba stated she looked forward to collaborating with Attorney General Pam Bondi to advance the president’s agenda of prioritizing America and addressing the issues at hand. She criticized Democratic Senator Cory Booker and Governor Phil Murphy for their performance in managing the state’s affairs.
“If you examine the crime situation, particularly in places like Newark and Camden, it’s evident that this state has been neglected. Given its dense population, it requires immediate attention. We’re determined to perform excellently,” said Habba on Monday. Booker’s and Murphy’s representatives have yet to comment.
Camden authorities reported earlier this year that violent crime levels dropped to a 55-year low, attributing this improvement to their county police department. Previously, Newark officials had noted a decrease in homicide rates although other crimes rose in 2024.
Alina Habba was notable as one of Trump’s prominent defense attorneys frequently appearing on television to discuss legal aspects on his behalf. She represented him in the high-profile defamation lawsuit involving E. Jean Carroll in 2024. However, Habba has limited exposure to federal courts, focusing mainly on state-level legal matters. During the Carroll trial, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan reproached Habba for procedural errors, misunderstanding legal intricacies, and bringing up prohibited topics. Trump and Habba faced a $1 million fine in 2023 for filing what a Florida judge deemed a frivolous lawsuit against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Habba has also represented Siggy Flicker from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” in a bid to restore her Facebook account in 2021, which she alleged was deactivated following a birthday message to First Lady Melania Trump. Furthermore, Habba served as the plaintiff’s attorney in a defamation lawsuit against a Portuguese weekly magazine in 2021, which was ultimately dismissed.
John Giordano, who was sworn in as New Jersey’s interim U.S. attorney earlier this month, had previously worked as a counselor to the assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division and as a federal prosecutor in Virginia.