On July 22, the Justice Department announced that it terminated Desiree Leigh Grace as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey after the federal judges of the state appointed her over Trump-sycophant and legal spokesperson Alina Habba.
Habba’s 120-day term as acting U.S. attorney for that district expired this week.
Using the same justification that Bondi used for mass firings, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated:
“This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers…”
ABC
There is no evidence that Grace was rogue; her appointment also does not meet this definition, as past Justice Departments have recognized that state federal judges have the authority to select a district attorney if one is not confirmed by the Senate in 120 days. Similarly, there is no evidence for Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s accusation that Grace was appointed as part of a “left-wing agenda.”
Bondi broke the law by firing Grace, as they are not allowed to “fire a U.S. attorney appointed by the district court under a section of U.S. Code law dealing with vacancies…” Only Trump has this authority.
Habba was nominated in the first place as a personal favor. She was one of at least four of his defense attorneys, including Blanche, Emil Bove, and John Sauer, to enjoy some role in his second administration. This is a far cry from the meritocracy that Trump has promised.
