Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing intense criticism after she abruptly removed Desiree Leigh Grace from her post as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey—just hours after Grace was appointed by a panel of federal judges to succeed Alina Habba.
The judges declined to extend Habba’s term, instead selecting Grace, her deputy, to fill the role. But Bondi swiftly reversed that decision.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Bondi defended her move:
“Alina Habba has been doing a great job making New Jersey safe again. Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to let her continue and replaced her with the First Assistant,” she wrote. “Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed. This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges—especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers.”
.@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.
Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) July 22, 2025
Outrage and Legal Uncertainty
The decision sparked a wave of backlash online.
One user questioned the legality and logic of Bondi’s move:
“Wait… so you fired a career DOJ prosecutor just to protest the judges’ vote not to reappoint Habba? What does that accomplish, other than chaos?”
Others pointed out the potential overreach of Bondi’s authority:
“It’s not even clear Bondi has the power to fire Grace, since her appointment came directly from the judiciary—not the executive branch.”
The harshest critics accused Bondi of blatant corruption:
“Pam Bondi may be the most corrupt AG in U.S. history. Just a puppet for Trump. She’s not serving justice—she’s undermining it.”
Another wrote:
“Federal judges removed Habba after her term ended. Now Trump’s AG overrides them, calls them ‘rogue,’ and reinstates her? This isn’t justice. It’s authoritarianism.”
The controversy has fueled fresh debate over political interference in the justice system—and whether Bondi’s actions violate the separation of powers.
