
Epstein's former lawyer wants Ghislaine Maxwell released so that she can testify
In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Epstein's former lawyer Alan Dershowitz said Maxwell 'absolutely' should testify as she was most closely involved with Epstein.
'She knows everything. I mean, she is everything,' Dershowitz said.
'She was the one who arranged all the trips and travel of all the people who went to the island, who went to the house and went to the place in New Mexico, who went to his place in Paris,' Dershowitz said of Maxwell.
'So she's key to everything, and there's no reason why they shouldn't give her use immunity, which means she can still be prosecuted if she commits perjury, but she would then have to testify about everything, and she should.'
On Friday, the Justice Department filed a motion in a Manhattan federal court to unseal transcripts from the grand jury that investigated Epstein before he died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Dershowitz also warned that the grand jury transcripts that Attorney General Pam Bondi asked a federal judge to unseal on Friday would not yield the list of Epstein's clientele that many of President Donald Trump's supporters are eagerly anticipating.
'I think the judge should release it, but they are not in the grand jury transcripts,' Dershowitz said.
"I've seen some of these materials. For example, there is an FBI report of interviews with alleged victims in which at least one of the victims names very important people," he said, adding that those names have been redacted.
Trump has come under growing pressure from his MAGA base to release information related to the government's inquiry into Epstein – something he said he would do during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration did a complete 180 on the Epstein files, releasing a joint memo with the FBI claiming there was 'no incriminating client list' or any evidence of blackmail.
The memo also reiterated the FBI's previous investigation that concluded Epstein died by suicide, and was not murdered in his jail cell as some conspiracy theorists have speculated.
Maxwell, a former British socialite and ex-girlfriend of Epstein, was found guilty in December 2021 of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, among other charges, related to her role in a scheme to abuse minor girls with the wealthy financier for a decade.
The now-63-year-old was sentenced to 20 years in prison, though her lawyers have been trying to get her out by appealing her case, arguing she was exempt from prosecution under a clause in Epstein's 2008 non-prosecution agreement.
The release of the grand jury documents may fall short of what many of Trump's supporters are seeking.
The transcripts are a fraction of the Epstein documents, as bank, phone, and surveillance records remain under seal along with his autopsy results.
Because Epstein's circle included royals, presidents, and billionaires, the case gained massive attention and fueled some of the biggest conspiracy theories driving Trump's supporters, even as Trump himself was a close friend of Epstein.
After the memo from Trump's administration and the FBI, the Wall Street Journal published an alleged birthday card from Trump to Epstein that was described as including a sexually suggestive drawing and a birthday wish that says, 'may every day be another wonderful secret.'
In response, Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal 's parent companies, News Corp and Dow Jones.
Trump claims the newspaper 'failed to attach the letter, failed to attach the alleged drawing, failed to show proof that President Trump authored or signed any such letter, and failed to explain how this purported letter was obtained,' according to the lawsuit.
'The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists,' the complaint claims.
"We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit,' a spokesperson for Dow Jones said in a statement.
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Judge weighing disciplinary referral for DOJ lawyers in Venezuela deportations case
WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said on Thursday he may initiate disciplinary proceedings against Justice Department lawyers for their conduct in a lawsuit brought by Venezuelans challenging their removal to a Salvadoran prison in March. Boasberg, a prominent Washington, D.C., judge who has drawn President Donald Trump's ire, said during a court hearing that a recent whistleblower complaint had strengthened the argument that Trump administration officials engaged in criminal contempt of court by failing to turn around deportation flights. Boasberg also raised the prospect of referring Justice Department lawyers to state bar associations, which have the authority to discipline unethical conduct by attorneys. "I will certainly be assessing whether government counsel's conduct and veracity to the court warrant a referral to state bars or our grievance committee, which determines lawyers' fitness to practice in our court," Boasberg said. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. Boasberg has been hearing an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit brought on behalf of alleged Venezuelan gang members removed from the U.S. under a rarely invoked 18th-century law. The detainees in the case were returned to Venezuela last week as part of a prisoner exchange, after spending four months in El Salvador's CECOT prison. The migrants' lawyers have disputed the gang membership claims and said their clients were not given a chance to contest the government's assertions. Boasberg said in April that the Trump administration appeared to have acted 'in bad faith' when it hurriedly assembled three deportation flights on March 15 at the same time that he was conducting emergency court proceedings to assess the legality of the effort. In court filings, Justice Department lawyers have disputed that they disobeyed a court order, saying remarks Boasberg made from the bench were not legally binding. In a 2-1 order, a federal appeals court in April temporarily paused Boasberg's effort to further investigate whether the Trump administration engaged in criminal contempt. Boasberg said during Thursday's hearing that the delay from the appeals court was frustrating for the plaintiffs, and that a whistleblower complaint from Erez Reuveni, a former Justice Department attorney who was fired in April, strengthened the case for contempt. Reuveni described three separate incidents when Justice Department leaders defied court orders related to the deportation of immigrants living in the country illegally. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a post on X, called Reuveni a "disgruntled employee" and a "leaker."


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
The Latest: Justice Department to meet with Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell
Justice Department officials are set to meet on Thursday with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a person familiar with the matter. The meeting in Florida, which Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday he was working to arrange, is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following fierce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump's base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation. Here's the latest: State Dept. remains mum on what 'alternative options' US will use for Israeli hostage release after breakdown in talks At a news briefing Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott would not offer details on what the 'alternative options' the U.S. is considering to release hostages in Gaza after Trump envoy announced a breakdown in negotiations. 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President Donald Trump mourns 'a great friend,' Hulk Hogan Trump offered condolences to Hogan's wife and family on his social media platform Thursday. Using Hogan's 'Hulkster' nickname, Trump said the pro wrestling star was 'strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.' He said Hogan 'MAGA all the way' and praised his speech at the Republican National Convention as 'one of the highlights of the entire week.' Where do gaps remain in Gaza ceasefire talks? The talks have been bogged down over competing demands for ending the war. Hamas says it will only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas gives up power and disarms — a condition the militant group rejects. The U.S. plan called for an initial 60-day ceasefire and partial hostage release, with pledges from the U.S. that Israel would not resume the fighting after that. Hamas is believed to be holding the hostages in different locations, including tunnels, and says it has ordered its guards to kill them if Israeli forces approach. Senate Republicans quash Democratic bid to force release of Epstein files It was the latest attempt by Democrats on Capitol Hill to force Republicans to vote for greater disclosure of the Epstein files, yet notably, the first time many Republicans in the Senate had to take a stand on the issue. For now, they voted against forcing the release of the case files. The vote unfolded Thursday morning with tense exchanges as the Senate Judiciary Committee prepared to advance a bill meant to address opioid trafficking. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey offered an amendment to the bill that would have kept it from going into effect until the Epstein files are released. But Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas successfully stymied that effort by offering a separate amendment that nullified Booker's while also adding language to address criminals who entered the country illegally. While some Republicans have indicated they're open to a debate on forcing more disclosure, Cornyn said he trusted Attorney General Pam Bondi to handle the matter. Republicans on the committee all voted for Cornyn's amendment, while Democrats voted against, saying, 'No on concealing the Epstein files.' Trump envoy Witkoff says US cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks, bringing home negotiating team President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday the U.S. is cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks and bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar for consultations after the latest response from Hamas 'shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.' 'While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,' Witkoff said. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' He said it was 'a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way' and that the U.S. is 'resolute' in seeking an end to the conflict in Gaza. ▶ Read more about Gaza ceasefire The Senate Judiciary Committee advances Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as federal prosecutor for DC, again The party-line committee vote, which advances Pirro's nomination to the Senate floor, was a do-over after the Judiciary panel approved her nomination last week when Democrats had walked out of the room to protest Emil Bove's nomination to become a federal appeals court judge. The Judiciary committee scheduled the second vote to ensure there was a sufficient quorum of senators after consulting with the Senate parliamentarian. Pirro has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since May. President Donald Trump nominated her to replace his previous nominee, Ed Martin Jr., amid concerns among some Republican senators about his outspoken support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and were later pardoned by Trump. Democrats have criticized Pirro, as well, for defending the rioters. Before she replaced Martin, Pirro cohosted the Fox News show 'The Five' on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New York's Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the county's elected district attorney. Trump takes to social media to support Musk's embattled car company. The Thursday morning post on Truth Social — 'I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE' — is a startling development given the bitter public feud between the two. The post came about an hour before Tesla's stock opened sharply lower after the company reported another quarter of lackluster financial results. The stock was down 9% in midday trading. 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Jeanne Shaheen, voted with all Republicans except Paul to push the nomination to the Senate floor. Shaheen's support came as a surprise as many thought that Paul's opposition would tank Waltz's nomination, dealing another blow to the White House over a position they have failed to fill for the past six months. The New Hampshire lawmaker defended her decision, saying in a statement that while she disagrees with Waltz on some issues, the alternatives to his nomination could fare worse for U.S. foreign policy. 'He represents a moderating force within the administration. He has a distinguished record of military service, and he has an extensive background in national security policy,' Shaheen said. Senate Republicans quash Democratic bid to force release of Epstein files It was the latest attempt by Democrats on Capitol Hill to force Republicans to vote for greater disclosure of the Epstein files, yet notably, the first time many Republicans in the Senate had to take a stand on the issue. For now, they voted against forcing the release of the case files. The vote unfolded Thursday morning with tense exchanges as the Senate Judiciary Committee prepared to advance a bill meant to address opioid trafficking. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey offered an amendment to the bill that would have kept it from going into effect until the Epstein files are released. But Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas successfully stymied that effort by offering a separate amendment that nullified Booker's. While some Republicans have indicated they're open to a debate on forcing more disclosure, Cornyn said he trusted Attorney General Pam Bondi to handle the matter. Republicans on the committee all voted for Cornyn's amendment, while Democrats voted against, saying, 'No on concealing the Epstein files.' A replica Oval Office on display near the White House just got a Trump makeover The replica Oval Office now looks exactly like President Trump's. But it's not the blingy version he's currently using. Visitors starting Thursday will experience the mock Oval Office as it was in the Republican president's first term, until it's redecorated again next year to incorporate the golden touches and other flourishes Trump brought to the workspace after he returned to power in January. 'Just like the White House itself, our Oval Office is a living space, so it changes and evolves as the actual Oval Office changes,' Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, said Wednesday as he led The Associated Press on a tour of the space as it was being revamped. The mock-up is inside 'The People's House: A White House Experience,' an educational center the association opened last year one block west of the Executive Mansion. ▶ Read more about the replica Oval Office House subcommittee voted Wednesday to subpoena Justice Department for Epstein files A House subcommittee voted to subpoena the Department of Justice for files in the Epstein case after Democrats successfully goaded GOP lawmakers to defy Trump and Republican leadership to support the action. The vote showed the intensifying push for disclosures in the Epstein investigation even as House Speaker Mike Johnson — caught between demands from Trump and clamoring from his own members for the House to act — was sending lawmakers home a day early for its August recess. Meanwhile, Democrats on a subcommittee of the powerful House Oversight Committee made a motion for the subpoena Wednesday afternoon. Three Republicans on the panel voted with Democrats for the subpoena, sending it through on an 8-2 vote tally. Democrats cheered the action as proof that their push for disclosures in the Epstein investigation was growing stronger. The committee agreed to redact information on victims, yet Democrats successfully blocked a push by Republicans to only subpoena information that was deemed to be 'credible' — language that Trump has also used when discussing what he would support releasing. ▶Read more about the subpoena Bondi facing Democratic calls to testify following report she told Trump he was in Epstein files Bondi is facing Democratic calls to testify before Congress after the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that she told Trump his name was among many high-profile figures mentioned in the files, which the Justice Department this month said it would not be releasing despite a clamor from online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and members of Trump's base. Trump's personal ties to Epstein are well-established and his name is already known to have been included in records related to the wealthy financier. Sen. Adam Schiff responded to the report by calling on Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Justice Department declined to comment on the report but issued a joint statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying that investigators had reviewed the records and 'nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution.' The mere inclusion of a person's name in Epstein's files does not imply wrongdoing and he was known to have been associated with multiple prominent figures, including Trump. ▶ Read more about the calls for Bondi to testify Senate Democratic Leader calls for closed-door briefing on the Epstein files Democrats aren't letting up on their calls for disclosure from the Trump administration on the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer started the morning off with a speech calling for a closed-door briefing for senators from the Trump administration on the Epstein files. While the administration is unlikely to comply with the New York Democrat's demand, Democrats are pouncing on the issue and have found some success this week by daring Republicans to join them in votes to demand disclosure of the files. 'A good number of people voted for Trump because he promised to be their voice against the so-called deep state. But now they've seen he's very much part of that deep state. He's right in the middle of it,' Schumer said. Lara Trump says she's sitting out the North Carolina Senate race The president's daughter-in-law formally made her decision public Thursday in a post on X, as news of RNC Chair Michael Whatley's expected entrance into the race emerged. Lara Trump said she was 'deeply grateful' for encouragement to seek the open seat in her home state and appeared not to close the door to a possible future run, saying she looked 'forward to the future, wherever that leads.' Lara Trump served alongside Whatley as RNC co-chair during last year's elections and had been seen as having the right of first refusal to seek the seat, which Democrats see as a top pickup opportunity in next year's midterms. Biden's former chief of staff appears on Capitol Hill for House Republican age inquiry Ron Klain, who served as former President Joe Biden's first chief of staff, entered the House Oversight Committee's hearing room just before 10 a.m. for testimony as part of House Republicans' probe into Biden's age and alleged cognitive decline. Klain took no questions as he entered the room. UnitedHealth stocks dip The stock price dropped 2%, or $6.13, to $286.50 on Thursday morning. Company shares have mostly shed value since December, when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan on his way to the company's annual investor meeting. What to know about UnitedHealth Group The company's business covers more than 8 million people as the nation's largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. The business has been under pressure in recent quarters due to rising care use and rate cuts. UnitedHealth also runs one of the nation's largest health insurance and pharmacy benefits management businesses. It also operates a growing Optum business that provides care and technology support. UnitedHealth says it is under a federal investigation and cooperating Shares of UnitedHealth Group dove early Thursday after the health care giant said it was under a Department of Justice investigation. The company said it has started complying with both criminal and civil requests from federal investigators and it was working cooperatively with them. '(UnitedHealth) has a long record of responsible conduct and effective compliance,' the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal said federal officials had launched a civil fraud investigation into how the company records diagnoses that lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage, or MA, plans. Those are privately run versions of the government's Medicare coverage program mostly for people ages 65 and over. ▶ Read more about the UnitedHealth federal investigation RNC Chair Michael Whatley plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina That's according to two people familiar with his thinking, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't permitted to speak on the record. President Trump, according to one of the people, asked him to make the run after Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, mulled the seat. Politico first reported news of Whatley's plans. Democrats see North Carolina as their top pickup opportunity next year after Sen. Thom Tillis announced his surprise retirement after clashing with Trump. While Lara Trump had been seen as having the right of first refusal, Whatley is considered by national Republicans to be a strong contender for the seat, thanks, in part, to the large fundraising network he's cultivated as RNC chair and his perceived loyalty to the president. He's a well-known name in the state, having served as GOP chair there, and has no voting record that could be used against him by Democrats. — Jill Colvin Trump's trip to Scotland highlights his complex relationship with his mother's homeland President Trump's trip to Scotland this week will be a homecoming of sorts, but he's likely to get a mixed reception. Trump has had a long and at times rocky relationship with the country where his mother grew up in a humble house on a windswept isle. He'll be met by both political leaders and protesters during the visit, which begins Friday and takes in his two Scottish golf resorts. It comes two months before King Charles III is due to welcome him on a formal state visit to the U.K. 'I'm not proud that he (has) Scottish heritage,' said Patricia Sloan, who says she stopped visiting the Turnberry resort on Scotland's west coast after Trump bought it in 2014. 'All countries have good and bad that come out of them, and if he's going to kind of wave the flag of having Scottish heritage, that's the bad part, I think.' ▶ Read more about Trump's relationship with Scotland Trump's schedule, according to the White House 3 p.m. ET — Trump will sign executive orders 4 p.m. — Trump will visit the Federal Reserve Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump returns to court and hopes to represent himself The man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump last year at his Florida golf course will return to court Thursday to once again explain why he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself. Ryan Routh previously made the request earlier this month during a hearing in Fort Pierce before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. She didn't rule during the hearing but said she would issue a written order later. But now Routh, 59, is set to be back in front of Cannon, a day after his court-appointed federal public defenders asked to be taken off the case. Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump fights to save Alina Habba in latest showdown with the courts
Donald Trump's attempts to keep his personal attorney Alina Habba as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor has sparked yet another showdown between his administration and a judiciary he despises. The latest clash between the president and the courts is a crisis of his own making, piling on to an already chaotic week at the Department of Justice where officials are putting out Jeffrey Epstein-related fires elsewhere. In a rare move Tuesday morning, New Jersey's federal trial judges named their own nominee to replace Habba at the end of her 120-day term as the state's acting U.S. Attorney. But hours later, Attorney General Pam Bondi not only blocked the judges' nominee but 'removed' her from the office entirely. That prosecutor, Desiree Leigh Grace, who has spent a decade fighting crime at the U.S. Attorney's office in Newark, said she is still prepared to take the job and will show up for work 'in accordance with the law.' A spokesperson for the Justice Department told The Independent that 'Grace is no longer an employee of the department.' The situation has left the office's leadership in a state of limbo with potentially serious consequences for its caseload after Habba launched several investigations and indictments against Trump's political enemies. It's unclear what will happen next. To stay on permanently, Habba needs to be confirmed by the Senate, but it's unlikely her name will come up for a vote any time soon. New Jersey's Democratic senators have effectively killed off chances of a confirmation vote, let alone a hearing. On Tuesday, Bondi accused the New Jersey judges of 'going rogue'. But by firing Habba's deputy and attacking judges, 'it is clear that it is the AG herself who has gone rogue,' Virginia Canter, chief counsel for ethics and anti-corruption at Democracy Defenders Fund, told The Independent. Bondi and her deputy attorney general Todd Blanche 'are amplifying the issue on social media, using it as a tool to undermine the legitimacy of the judiciary,' Canter said. The Independent has requested comment from the U.S. Attorney's office in New Jersey. Habba's appointment by Trump as New Jersey's top prosecutor was controversial from the start. After she briefly served as 'counselor to the president' at the White House, she was sworn in as acting U.S. attorney in her home state on March 28. She has appeared to repeatedly fail upwards in her service to the president. In the months leading up to the 2024 election, she lost several blockbuster cases defending Trump, costing him close to half a billion dollars, and judges slapped her with sanctions and scoldings in open court. Legal experts argue that her 120-day term as New Jersey's top prosecutor should have ended Tuesday. Blanche argues her term ends at midnight on Friday, marking 120 days from her swearing-in ceremony. If the Trump doubles down on keeping Habba in her role, the administration could be entering unprecedented, messy legal territory. The president may attempt to reappoint Habba, which will likely trigger another legal fight between Trump and the courts, according to Stanford Law School professor Anne Joseph O'Connell, an expert on vacancy issues. That could set off even more legal battles. Anyone facing prosecution by Habba's office could argue in court that she was unlawfully appointed, and that the charges against them should be thrown out. Federal judges had similarly tried to stop John Sarcone from continuing on as U.S. attorney in upstate New York earlier this year. Trump then named him as a 'special attorney to the attorney general' to keep him in place. Despite the New Jersey judges using their lawful authority to appoint Grace, who was hired by Habba to serve as her top assistant, Justice Department officials have accused them of advancing a politically motivated attempt to force Habba out of the job. (The order from the judges was signed by George W. Bush-appointed chief judge Renee Marie Bumb.) New Jersey's Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim blasted the Justice Department for undermining judges who lawfully appointed Habba's successor. 'The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn't agree with them and undermine judicial independence,' the senators said in a joint statement. 'This administration may not like the law, but they are not above it.' Under federal law, the U.S. attorney general has the power to appoint an interim U.S. attorney in a state for 120 days when that position is vacant. At the end of that period, the law only says that the 'district court for such district may appoint a United States Attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled.' But the law doesn't require the interim U.S. attorney to be kicked out. It only requires that the district court decide whether it wants to keep that person or appoint someone else, a person close to the confirmation process told The Independent. In a post on LinkedIn Wednesday night, Grace did not explicitly mention that she was fired, but ended on a defiant note. '[T]he District Judges for the District of New Jersey selected me to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. It will forever be the greatest honor that they selected me on merit, and I'm prepared to follow that Order and begin to serve in accordance with the law,' she wrote. Her post was met with dozens of messages of support from law enforcement and officials in other state prosecutors' offices. Other top Democrats have accused the Trump administration of abusing the interim appointment process to install loyalists like Habba, who otherwise would never win approval in the Senate. Trump appointed far-right legal activist Ed Martin as interim U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., and then replaced him with former Fox News commentator Jeanine Pirro when it was clear there were not enough votes to confirm him. The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended Pirro's nomination by a vote of 12-0 on Thursday, with no Democrats voting in support. Senator Dick Durbin, the committee's top Democrat, said that rather than respect the courts, 'the Trump Administration is trying to make end-runs around the Constitution.' The Justice Department's claims of political maneuvering follow years of allegations of Habba launching politically motivated stunts of her own. Shortly after her appointment to the U.S. attorney's office, she told a right-wing media outlet that she plans to 'turn New Jersey red.' 'So, hopefully, while I'm there, I can help that cause,' she said. In April, Habba told Fox News that her office had launched an investigation into New Jersey's Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew Platkin over a directive to local law enforcement instructing them against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. The following month, she announced on Fox News that her office was bringing criminal charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after a scuffle with federal agents during a congressional oversight visit at an immigration detention center. She later abruptly dropped trespassing charges against Baraka 'for the sake of moving forward' — and then criminally charged Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver with assault. The judge overseeing the case against Baraka criticized Habba's about-face in open court and questioned why prosecutors even brought the charges in the first place. 'Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas,' Magistrate Judge Andre M. Espinosa said. 'Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth and to the upholding of due process for all.' Habba has also been under an ethics investigation New Jersey Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Ethics for months following a settlement with a former employee at Trump's Bedminster golf club who accused the lawyer of tricking her into signing an agreement to keep quiet about sexual harassment allegations. Habba's back-to-back losses in New York courtrooms defending Trump last year racked up nearly half a billion dollars in two blockbuster judgments against him. Trump was ordered to pay E Jean Carroll more than $83 million after he was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming the former Elle magazine writer. One month later, Trump was ordered to pay more than $350 million to the state for more than a decade of business fraud — a judgment that has only grown with interest to more than $500 million as he tries to appeal. Habba was repeatedly reprimanded for her behavior and mistakes in court, and the president's other attorneys in the fraud case ought to distance themselves from Habba after they were sanctioned for 'frivolous' court filings they claim were her fault. But Habba emerged as a powerful spokesperson on Trump's behalf, infusing her in-court arguments with the same disdain for what she and Trump view as a politically-motivated judiciary. Habba's New Jersey-based firm, Habba Madaio & Associates, was first hired by Trump in 2021 for a legal challenge against his niece Mary Trump and The New York Times, which were sued for $100 million for publishing information about his tax returns. That case was ultimately dismissed, and Trump was ordered to pay $400,000 in legal fees. She also represented Trump in a defamation case brought by Summer Zervos, a former contestant on The Apprentice, who accused the former president of sexual assault. Zervos later dropped the case. In 2023, Habba was the subject of a blistering federal court judgment that ordered nearly $1 million in sanctions against her and Trump's legal team for their spurious lawsuit against former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. A federal judge in Florida accused his attorneys of turning to the courts to put on a political sideshow, labeling Trump a 'mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process.' 'The courts are not intended for performative litigation for purposes of fund-raising and political statements,' District Judge Donald Middlebrooks wrote at the time. When she joined Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden in the days leading up to Election Day last year, she danced her way to the stage to the tune of DJ Khaled's 'All I Do Is Win.'