U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took swift action Tuesday after a panel of federal judges in New Jersey voted to end Alina Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

In response, Bondi terminated Habba’s court-appointed replacement, Desiree Leigh Grace, hours after the decision was announced.

The move followed a coordinated pressure campaign reportedly led by House Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who urged federal judges to remove Habba from her position after she indicted Rep. LaMonica McIver.

According to court documents, Habba’s interim term was set to expire Friday at 11:59 p.m.

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A group of federal judges, including several appointed during the Obama and Biden-Harris administrations, voted on Tuesday not to extend her term.

The order was signed by Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, appointing First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Leigh Grace as her replacement, effective immediately.

By Tuesday afternoon, Bondi had issued a statement confirming she had removed Grace from the role.

“@USAttyHabba has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again. Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant,” Bondi stated.

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“Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed.”

The decision to fire Grace came just hours after the court’s announcement, signaling the Department of Justice’s disapproval of what Bondi described as political interference.

“This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers,” Bondi added.

The internal shakeup comes in the wake of Habba’s decision to bring charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat lawmaker representing New Jersey.

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The indictment drew national attention and sparked backlash from Democratic leadership, including Minority Leader Jeffries, who reportedly lobbied for Habba’s removal.

The situation escalated after Jeffries reached out to federal judges, pressing them to take action against Habba.

On Tuesday morning, the judges voted to remove her from the interim post, and the court announced Grace’s appointment later that day.

The Department of Justice has not yet announced a new interim appointment for the U.S. Attorney position in New Jersey.

Habba, a prominent attorney known for her legal work in high-profile federal cases, was appointed to the interim role earlier this year.

The termination of Grace underscores the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and certain federal courts, particularly in high-stakes legal and political matters.

Bondi’s remarks suggested the Justice Department views the court’s decision as a challenge to presidential appointment authority under Article II of the Constitution.

The removal of both Habba and Grace leaves the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey temporarily vacant.

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