/p>President Donald Trump is calling out Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley for his role in blocking the nomination of Alina Habba as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Habba, a dedicated Trump ally and experienced attorney, took to Fox News to unveil what she described as the backroom maneuvering from both Democrats and some Republicans that has hindered her nomination. On the same day, Judge Mathew Brann, appointed by Obama, stated that Habba is “not lawfully holding the Office of U.S. Attorney.” This ruling reflects the pressure exerted by Democrat groups and legal insiders opposed to her appointment.
Last month, judges in New Jersey, pressured by Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, refused to extend Habba’s interim term, forcing her resignation as Interim U.S. Attorney. In a strategic move, Trump’s Department of Justice reappointed Habba as Acting U.S. Attorney to bypass a judicial blockade. During her appearance on Fox News, she pointed to Grassley’s reliance on the outdated “blue slip” tradition as a barrier to her Senate confirmation. “I will tell you this: Number one, I was the nominee to become the U.S. Attorney. Cory Booker and Andy Kim—who I have never, to this day, spoken to in my life despite my attempts to meet them—have truly, truly done us a disservice,” she told Sean Hannity. “Frankly, same with Senator Grassley, by holding up a traditional blue slip and not allowing a lot of the President’s picks to go through and be voted on by the Senate.”
Previously, Trump had called out Grassley, urging him to abandon the “blue slip” custom that allows home state senators to veto presidential nominations. “Chuck Grassley, who I got re-elected to the U.S. Senate when he was down by a lot in the Great State of Iowa, could solve the ‘Blue Slip’ problem we are having with respect to the appointment of highly qualified judges and U.S. Attorneys with a mere flick of the pen,” Trump stated. He criticized the Democrats for using this tradition as a weapon against his appointments, claiming it effectively prevents him from selecting qualified candidates.
During the discussion, Trump referred to the blue slip tradition as “ridiculous” and “probably unconstitutional.” He expressed frustration over the constraints it puts on his ability to nominate competent candidates in states plagued by crime and corruption, stating, “The only way to beat this hoax is to appoint a Democrat or a weak and ineffective Republican.” He urged Grassley to act swiftly to let “great Republican judges and U.S. Attorneys be confirmed.”
Trump did not hold back in his criticism of the Democrats, labeling them as “sleazebags” for obstructing his nominations. He emphasized the importance of breaking the blue slip tradition, which he claims has been broken by Democrats like Biden in the past. “Senator Grassley must step up, like Crooked Joe Biden did, and let our great Republican judges and U.S. Attorneys be confirmed. He should do this immediately and not let the Democrats laugh at him and the Republican Party for being weak and ineffective,” he asserted.
By Sunday evening, Trump escalated his demands on Grassley, insisting that he abandon the blue slip blockade altogether. “I have a constitutional right to appoint judges and U.S. Attorneys, but that right has been completely taken away from me in states that have just one Democrat United States Senator,” he declared. He reiterated that the blue slip not only hinders his appointments but also pushes strong Republican candidates out of vital positions. “Chuck Grassley should allow strong Republican candidates to ascend to these very vital and powerful roles and tell the Democrats, as they often tell us, to go to hell!” Trump concluded.
This ongoing battle over the blue slip tradition highlights a significant rift not just between parties but within Republican leadership as well. The stakes are high for judicial appointments that could shape legal landscapes in key states. Trump’s insistence on changing the rules reflects his larger strategy of consolidating power and ensuring his vision is realized through trusted appointments.
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