Hakeem Jeffries Under Fire: Ethics Complaint Over Push to Oust Alina Habba

In a heated clash of politics and law, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stirred controversy by publicly demanding the ouster of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba from her position in New Jersey. Jeffries accuses Habba of maliciously targeting Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., with charges of obstructing Homeland Security agents during a tense incident at an immigration facility in Newark on May 9. McIver, who has pleaded not guilty, is set for trial on November 10.

Jeffries didn’t hold back, calling Habba a "woefully unqualified political hack" in a fiery post on X, urging federal district court judges to reject her retention. But this move has backfired, with Republican legal activists from the Article III Project filing a House Ethics complaint against Jeffries over the weekend. They argue his interference in an ongoing criminal case reeks of clear corruption, accusing him of attempting to pressure judges for partisan reasons.

Habba, a former Trump campaign legal spokesperson, was appointed to her acting role by Attorney General Pam Bondi in March. Her confirmation remains stalled in the Senate, but a decision by a majority of New Jersey’s district court judges—15 of 17 nominated by Democratic presidents—could secure her position through the Trump presidency as early as Monday.

The underlying incident fueling this firestorm occurred during a congressional oversight visit coinciding with an immigration protest. According to the Department of Justice, McIver allegedly physically intervened when federal agents attempted to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, facing charges that could carry up to eight years per count. Meanwhile, a liberal watchdog group, Campaign for Accountability, has accused Habba of politically targeting McIver and Baraka for their opposition to Trump’s views.

This saga lays bare the raw intersection of politics, justice, and personal loyalties. When elected officials play judge and jury from the sidelines, the integrity of our legal system hangs in a precarious balance. Will Jeffries face consequences for overstepping, or is this just another chapter in the endless partisan playbook?