Lawyer Alina Habba
Alina Habba, once President Donald Trump’s personal attorney and later the interim United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, was appointed in March 2025. Her term quickly became controversial after federal judges declined to extend her appointment and instead selected deputy Desiree Leigh Grace to serve. The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, overturned that decision and reinstated Habba, creating a public dispute over the limits of executive and judicial authority.
In August 2025, a federal court ruled that her appointment was unlawful and questioned the legality of actions she took while in office. The court’s ruling was stayed pending appeal, leaving her temporary status unresolved.
Ethics Investigation and Professional Misconduct Allegations
Since January 2024, Habba has been under investigation by the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Ethics. The probe focuses on allegations that Habba used her legal position to silence a sexual harassment complaint involving a young waitress at Trump’s Bedminster golf club. The complaint asserts that Habba persuaded the woman to sign an unlawful nondisclosure agreement for $15,000, an agreement allegedly intended to protect Trump and build her relationship with him.
According to the complaint, Habba discouraged the waitress from pursuing her original attorney and then arranged the settlement herself. Text messages cited in court filings show Habba advising the woman to accept the deal, later distancing herself when the woman faced tax penalties. New Jersey law forbids nondisclosure agreements in harassment cases, and the waitress ultimately hired another lawyer who won an $82,500 settlement that excluded Habba.
The ethics investigation remains open and could threaten her license to practice law. A second complaint, filed by the nonprofit Campaign for Accountability, accuses Habba of using her federal position to pursue criminal cases against Trump’s political opponents, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Representative LaMonica McIver, Governor Phil Murphy, and Attorney General Matt Platkin.
Professional Background
Habba was born in Summit, New Jersey, in 1984 to Iraqi Christian immigrants. She graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Political Science and earned her Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School. After clerking for the Presiding Judge of Essex County Superior Court, she joined a regional firm and later became a partner at Sandelands Eyet LLP.
In 2020, she founded Habba, Madaio & Associates LLP, focusing on commercial and civil litigation. She gained national attention as one of Donald Trump’s attorneys, representing him in multiple lawsuits, including his defamation action against The New York Times. In 2023, a federal court sanctioned Habba and Trump nearly $1 million for filing what the court described as a frivolous and politically motivated lawsuit.
On April 8, 2024, Habba was fired by Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg officially notified the court that attorney Alina Habba will no longer represent him in a fraud case in New York
Public and Political Image
Habba is known for her outspoken defense of Trump and her aggressive courtroom style. Supporters view her as loyal and unflinching, while critics argue that she has politicized her office and blurred ethical boundaries. During her time as interim U.S. Attorney, she initiated prosecutions involving Democratic officials, prompting bipartisan criticism and raising questions about political motivations within the Department of Justice.
Despite opposition from both of New Jersey’s U.S. Senators, Trump formally nominated Habba for permanent appointment in July 2025. The Senate has not confirmed her nomination, and her tenure continues to be overshadowed by ongoing ethics inquiries.
Personal Life
Habba identifies as Roman Catholic and often cites her Middle Eastern background as a source of resilience. She was married in 2011, divorced in 2019, and remarried in 2020. She has children from her first marriage and a stepchild from her second.
Habba has said publicly that she does not “cower to pressure” and “answers only to justice.” Her career now stands at the intersection of loyalty, controversy, and the rule of law.
