Bulwark Takes: Breaking – Trump Taps Parking Garage Lawyer & Influencer As US Attorney

Release Date: March 24, 2025

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosts Tim Miller and Sam Stein delve into the startling announcement from former President Donald Trump, who has appointed Alina Haba, a relatively inexperienced lawyer known for her role as Trump's spokesperson, as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. The hosts unpack the implications of this appointment, scrutinize Haba's qualifications, and discuss the potential impact on the New Jersey District Attorney's office and the broader U.S. legal system.

1. Breaking News Announcement

Tim Miller opens the episode at [00:00], highlighting the unexpected nature of Trump's appointment:

"From Donald Trump's Bleet. He announces this. It is with great pleasure that I'm announcing Alina Haba, Esquire, who is currently serving as counselor to the president that has represented me for a long time, will be interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, her home state, effective immediately." (00:00)

2. Alina Haba’s Official Statement

Alina Haba addresses the appointment, emphasizing her dedication to combating corruption and crime:

"As you know, I've stood by President Trump, his family, the organization, and many other clients in that state where I've been born and raised, and I'm raising my babies now. But there is corruption, there is injustice, and there is a heavy amount of crime right in Cory Booker's backyard and right under Governor Murphy. And that will stop." (00:35)

3. Initial Reactions and Shock

Tim Miller expresses disbelief at Haba's appointment, questioning her suitability for such a pivotal role:

"This is insane. Can you imagine being a lawyer at the District of New Jersey's prosecutor's office? Like this person is about to be your boss." (00:53)

4. Assessing Alina Haba’s Credentials

Sam Stein examines Haba’s professional background, revealing limited prosecutorial experience:

"She had three cases as lead counsel during her time practicing law in New Jersey. She was also licensed in New York and Connecticut." (03:50)

Tim Miller further critiques her qualifications:

"That's not really a very extensive resume for this job. It's not the traditional resume... this is like a cereal box level, like, law degree." (05:03)

5. The Role of a U.S. Attorney

Tim Miller underscores the gravity of the U.S. Attorney position, emphasizing the responsibility and potential consequences of such an appointment:

"Being U.S. attorney is an extremely real and important job. You are in charge of making judgments about who to prosecute, who not to prosecute." (02:49)

6. Potential Impact on the New Jersey DA’s Office

The hosts discuss how Haba’s appointment could shift the focus of the District Attorney’s office from handling serious crimes to politically motivated cases:

Sam Stein warns:

"This is the weaponization of very serious offices for the purposes of benefiting one client. Not the United States, the President of the United States. And it's scary stuff." (05:39)

Tim Miller illustrates the contrast by referencing recent serious cases handled by the New Jersey DA’s office:

"Here's the New Jersey District Attorney's office... There’s firearms trafficking, narcotics offenses, healthcare fraud, etc. Putting a parking garage lawyer in charge of that with no experience is preposterous and anti law and order." (06:23)

7. Broader Implications for the Legal System

The appointment is seen as part of a larger trend of politicizing the legal system, undermining the independence and effectiveness of prosecutorial offices:

Sam Stein elaborates:

"She’s going there to do cases that can help Trump and go after people that Trump opposes. This is the weaponization of very serious offices..." (05:39)

Tim Miller adds:

"The entire legal system has been upended by this distortion and perversion of what justice should be." (07:38)

8. Personal Ramifications and Brain Drain

Tim Miller shares personal anecdotes about the negative impact of such appointments on qualified legal professionals:

"Somebody really close to me was supposed to get a job in a U.S. attorney's office... they're just like, no, we're canceling out all the people that we're bringing in. We want to bring in people who are aligned for Mr. Trump." (08:39)

He continues with another example of internal unrest within DA offices:

"They're really worried about this. They're like, I have to look for another job because they're going to reorient me to what you just said." (08:39)

9. Call to Action

In response to the alarming developments, Sam Stein and Tim Miller urge listeners with pertinent information to come forward:

"If you're in the office, we have a tips line." (10:02)

"We do have a tips on the bulwark.com tips if you're in the New Jersey District Attorney's office." (10:07)

10. Conclusion

The hosts conclude by emphasizing the critical nature of maintaining an independent and effective legal system, free from political manipulation. They express deep concern over the appointment of Alina Haba and the broader implications it holds for justice and law enforcement in the United States.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Miller on the seriousness of the U.S. Attorney role:
  "You have the power of the government behind you. You can create a lot of problems in people's lives." (02:49)

• Sam Stein on the weaponization of legal offices:
  "This is the weaponization of very serious offices for the purposes of benefiting one client." (05:39)

• Tim Miller on the impact on the legal system:
  "The entire legal system has been upended by this distortion and perversion of what justice should be." (07:38)

This episode of Bulwark Takes serves as a critical examination of a controversial appointment that could reshape the landscape of legal prosecution in one of the country’s key districts. Tim Miller and Sam Stein provide a thorough analysis, highlighting the potential dangers and long-term consequences of politicizing prosecutorial roles within the U.S. justice system.