Alina Habba, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, is not holding back. During a fiery appearance on Fox News Sunday with Maria Bartiromo, Habba called out Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Chuck Grassley for blocking her formal confirmation. The comments have set off a new round of intra-party conflict just as President Trump ramps up efforts to cement loyal leadership in key legal positions.
Habba is currently overseeing the prosecution of U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat charged with assaulting a federal officer. The case has drawn national attention, and so has Habba’s appointment, which has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
In a 77-page ruling last week, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann declared that Habba was not lawfully holding her position, noting that she has been serving without confirmation since July 1. The ruling came after district judges tried to oust her, but President Trump used legal authority to keep her in office on an interim basis for another 120 days.
Despite the urgency of the role and Habba’s performance, which includes more than 300 arrests in June alone — her nomination remains stalled. Republican Senators on the Judiciary Committee are refusing to advance her, and Senator Tillis has made it clear he will not support her confirmation without a “blue slip” from the state’s senators.
Bartiromo pointed this out directly to Habba, referencing Tillis’ public commitment to block any judicial or attorney nominees lacking state-level approval. Habba didn’t mince words in her response.
“They’re not looking at what this does. The president was voted in by the majority of Americans, and he’s entitled to choose his U.S. attorneys,” she said. “In New Jersey alone, we arrested over 300 criminals, including rapists and illegal aliens. What is so bad about that?”
Habba accused both Tillis and Grassley of obstructing the will of voters who supported Trump’s law and order agenda. She warned that these delays are not about qualifications or performance but about undermining Trump’s ability to implement his policies.
Tillis, who announced his retirement earlier this summer, has vowed to block any nominee he sees as unfit, especially those who voiced support for January 6 political prisoners.
Habba’s message was clear: blocking qualified Trump nominees is not protecting democracy. It is protecting the swamp.
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