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Trump hit with setback as court rules Alina Habba unlawfully served as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey

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An appellate court found on Monday that Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as the top prosecutor in New Jersey, delivering a blow to President Donald Trump as he fights to keep his preferred nominees in charge of U.S. attorney’s offices in blue states.

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said in an order that a lower court was correct to disqualify Habba, a fiery Trump loyalist who previously served as the president’s personal defense lawyer.

The Trump administration could ask for a full panel of 3rd Circuit judges to reconsider the decision, or it could turn to the Supreme Court to weigh in. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice and a Habba spokesperson for comment.

A three-judge panel for the 3rd Circuit heard arguments on Habba’s appointment in October and grilled a Department of Justice lawyer over the unconventional way Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi reinstalled Habba as U.S. attorney after her initial, temporary appointment expired.

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TRUMP APPOINTS HABBA AS ‘ACTING’ US ATTORNEY AFTER JUDGES OUSTED HER

President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom with lawyers Christopher M. Kise and Alina Habba during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on Oct. 17, 2023, in New York City. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Habba is one of several names who became jammed up in court proceedings over allegations that Trump sidestepped the Senate and improperly exploited loopholes in federal vacancy laws to keep his preferred prosecutors in place.

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Habba’s case was the furthest along in the court process, but Lindsey Halligan and Bill Essayli, temporary U.S. attorneys in Virginia and California, respectively, are among those also facing high-stakes court challenges to their appointments.

The panel that heard Habba’s case comprised two appointees of former President George W. Bush and one appointee of former President Barack Obama.

The judges voiced skepticism of DOJ lawyer Henry Whitaker’s claims that Bondi had authority to fill the vacancy for the U.S. attorney of New Jersey after Trump fired the court-appointed one. Whitaker said the administration simply took advantage of «overlapping mechanisms» afforded to it by Congress.

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TRUMP’S US ATTORNEYS IN BLUE STATES FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT COULD UPEND KEY PROSECUTIONS

Alina Habba at CPAC

Alina Habba speaks during a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

«In this case, the executive branch admittedly took a series of precise and precisely timed steps not to evade or circumvent those mechanisms but rather to be scrupulously careful to comply with them,» Whitaker said.

One of the judges said during the oral arguments that he viewed Habba’s case as unusual and possibly unconstitutional.

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«Would you concede that the sequence of events here, and for me, they’re unusual, would you concede that there are serious constitutional implications to your theory here, the government’s theory, which really is a complete circumvention, it seems, of the appointments clause?» the judge asked.

Veteran D.C. lawyer Abbe Lowell, known for his involvement in lawsuits challenging the Trump administration, represented the defendants contesting Habba’s appointment.

Two sets of defendants facing run-of-the-mill charges brought the challenge to Habba, saying she should not be allowed to prosecute them because she was an invalid U.S. attorney.

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TRUMP NOMINEES SQUEEZED BETWEEN ‘BLUE SLIPS’ AND BLUE OBSTRUCTION

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as President Donald Trump looks on

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Habba had no path to Senate confirmation, in part because New Jersey’s Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, did not approve of her through the Senate’s blue slip tradition.

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That precedent has drawn Trump’s ire as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, stands firmly behind blue slips, which require home state senators to approve of U.S. attorney and district judge nominees.

Trump recently conveyed, through his firing of former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, that earning Democratic senators’ approval could be disqualifying in his view, setting up a stalemate with the upper chamber over his nominees in blue states.

This is a breaking new story and will be updated. 

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Trump confirmó que el líder supremo de Irán murió en los ataques coordinados de Israel y EE.UU.

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El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, informó que el líder supremo de Irán, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, murió por los ataques lanzados este sábado por Israel y EE.UU. contra territorio iraní.

“Jamenei, una de las personas más malvadas de la historia, está muerto”, escribió Trump en su red social Truth Social y calificó esa muerte como «un acto de justicia» no solo para el pueblo de Irán, sino también para ciudadanos estadounidenses y personas de distintos países que, según afirmó, “fueron asesinadas o mutiladas por Jamenei y su banda de matones sedientos de sangre”.

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Leé también: Video: así fue la “Operación Furia Épica” de Estados Unidos contra Irán

“El plan para destruir Israel ya no existe”, había dicho previamente el primer ministro israelí Benjamin Netanyahu sobre el operativo contra Jamenei durante una declaración retransmitida en la noche de este sábado.

En su comunicado, Trump sostuvo que Jamenei no logró evadir los sistemas de inteligencia y rastreo “altamente sofisticados” de Estados Unidos y aseguró que, trabajando estrechamente con Israel, el líder iraní y otros dirigentes “no pudieron hacer absolutamente nada” para evitar el ataque. Trump afirmó además que otros jerarcas militares habrían muerto junto a Jamenei.

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Leé también: El ataque a Irán sacude a los mercados y el petróleo podría trepar hasta los US$100 por barril

Donald Trump supervisó las operaciones militares estadounidenses en Irán desde Mar-a-Lago. Foto: X/La Casa Blanca)

El presidente estadounidense señaló que este escenario representa “la mayor oportunidad” para que el pueblo iraní “recupere su país” y sostuvo que sectores de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica, las fuerzas armadas y los cuerpos de seguridad estarían desistiendo de combatir y buscando inmunidad.

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“Ahora pueden tener inmunidad, después solo obtendrán la muerte”, advirtió Trump, al tiempo que expresó su deseo de que las fuerzas de seguridad se unan “pacíficamente” con lo que denominó “patriotas iraníes” para reconstruir el país.

En su mensaje, Trump también aseguró que, en apenas un día, Irán habría sido “muy seriamente destruido e incluso obliterado”, y confirmó que los bombardeos “pesados y de precisión” continuarán de manera ininterrumpida durante la semana o el tiempo que sea necesario para alcanzar el objetivo de lo que definió como “paz en Medio Oriente y en el mundo”.

Una imagen satelital muestra humo negro elevándose y daños importantes en el refugio del líder supremo iraní, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, tras los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel en Teherán el 28 de febrero de 2026. (Foto: REUTERS)

Una imagen satelital muestra humo negro elevándose y daños importantes en el refugio del líder supremo iraní, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, tras los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel en Teherán el 28 de febrero de 2026. (Foto: REUTERS)

En Teherán, testigos reportaron aplausos desde ventanas y gritos de alegría tras conocerse la muerte de Jamenei. Desde primeras horas del día, Trump y Netanyahu alentaron a los iraníes a sublevarse. “Es el momento de unir fuerzas, derrocar al régimen y garantizar su futuro”, dijo Netanyahu. Trump fue aún más explícito: “Cuando hayamos terminado, tomen el poder, les tocará a ustedes hacerlo”.

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Además, Trump declaró que tiene “una idea muy clara” sobre quién podría ser el próximo líder de Irán, aunque no dio nombres. Entre los posibles aspirantes aparece Reza Pahlavi, hijo del último sah de Irán, quien aseguró que espera una “victoria final” para reconstruir el país.

Por su parte, las autoridades de Teherán evitaron confirmar oficialmente la muerte de Jameneí. No obstante, el jefe del Consejo Supremo de Seguridad Nacional iraní, Ali Larijani, prometió una “lección inolvidable” a Estados Unidos e Israel.

La Guardia Revolucionaria anunció ataques contra el Ministerio de Defensa y bases militares israelíes, mientras que el ejército de Israel reportó múltiples impactos de misiles.

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En Irán, la Media Luna Roja informó al menos 201 muertos y 747 heridos por los ataques, que habrían alcanzado 24 de las 31 provincias del país. Las autoridades ordenaron evacuar Teherán y reportaron decenas de víctimas en distintos puntos del territorio.

La escalada no se limitó a Irán e Israel. Misiles iraníes alcanzaron o fueron interceptados en varias capitales del Golfo, como Riad, Abu Dabi, Doha, Dubái, Kuwait y Manama. Arabia Saudita, Qatar y Emiratos Árabes Unidos afirmaron haberse reservado el derecho de responder. Baréin, sede de la Quinta Flota estadounidense, reportó ataques contra edificios residenciales.

Las hostilidades también amenazan con afectar el suministro mundial de petróleo y disparar los precios. Varios países cerraron su espacio aéreo y Estados Unidos desaconsejó a los barcos comerciales acercarse a la zona.

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(Con información de AFP y EFE)

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Mamdani’s response to Trump’s Iran strike sparks conservative backlash: ‘Rooting for the ayatollah’

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New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing blowback from conservatives on social media over his post condemning the U.S. attack on Iran that led to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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On Saturday, as a joint strike on Iran by the United States and Israel was developing, Mamdani blasted the Trump administration’s decision in a post on X that has been viewed roughly 20 million times. 

«Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,» Mamdani wrote.

«Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change.»

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters during a news conference in New York Feb. 17, 2026.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Mamdani said Americans prefer «relief from the affordability crisis» before speaking directly to Iranians in New York City.

«You are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders,» Mamdani said. «You will be safe here.»

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The post was quickly slammed by conservatives on social media making the case that Mamdani’s response appeared sympathetic to Iran’s brutal regime and pointing to his lack of public reaction to the Iranian protesters killed in recent years.

«Comrade Mayor is rooting for the Ayatollah,» GOP Sen. Ted Cruz posted on X. «They can chant together.»

OBAMA OFFICIAL WHO BACKED IRAN DEAL SPARKS ONLINE OUTRAGE WITH REACTION TO TRUMP’S STRIKE: ‘SIT THIS ONE OUT’

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«Do u say anything pro American ?» Fox News host Brian Kilmeade posted on X. «do u know any Iranians – ? they hate @fr_Khamenei they celebrate his death, you should be celebrating his death ! hes killed thousands of American’s and just killed 30k Iranians, did u even say a word about that? You are an embarrassment !! Please quit.»

Ted Cruz.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questions Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Hart building Jan. 15, 2025.  (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

«I don’t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you, Mamdani, who sympathizes with the regime that killed more than 30,000 unarmed Iranians in less than 24 hours,» Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad posted on X. 

«We Iranians do not allow you to lecture us about war while you had nothing to say when the Islamic Republic shot schoolgirls and blinded more than 10,000 innocent people in the streets. You were busy celebrating the hijab while women of my beloved country Iran were jailed and raped by Islamic Security forces for removing it. 

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«And NOW you find your voice to defend the regime? No. I will not let you claim the moral high ground. The people of Iran want to be free. Where were you when they needed solidarity?»

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«How is it that you can’t differentiate between good and evil?» Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted on X. «Why is this so hard for you?»

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«It takes a particular kind of audacity, or ignorance, for a city mayor to appoint himself the conscience of American foreign policy while his constituents step over garbage on their way to work,» GOP Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. «History will not remember his bravery. It will not remember him at all.»

«Iranian New Yorkers are thrilled today and see right through you,» Republican New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino posted on X. 

Bill Ackman speaks during a conference

Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management LP, speaks during the WSJ D.Live global technology conference in Laguna Beach, Calif., Oct. 17, 2017. (Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

«When Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, UAE, Bahrain all support today’s operation eliminating world’s #1 sponsor of terror, but New York City’s Mayor @ZohranMamdani is shilling for Iran,» Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov posted on X. 

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Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment.

Shortly after Mamdani’s post, it was announced by President Trump and Israeli officials that the military operation resulted in Khamenei’s death.

Israeli leaders confirmed Khamenei’s compound and offices were reduced to rubble early Saturday after a targeted strike in downtown Tehran.

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«Khamenei was the contemporary Middle East’s longest-serving autocrat. He did not get to be that way by being a gambler. Khamenei was an ideologue, but one who ruthlessly pursued the preservation and protection of his ideology, often taking two steps forward and one step back,» Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of FDD’s Iran program, told Fox News Digital.

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Iran goes dark amid ‘regime paranoia’, blackout follows Israeli, US strikes on compound

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Iran was plunged into an internet blackout Saturday after Israel and the U.S. launched military strikes around the country, according to a global internet monitor.

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Within hours of the strikes — which officials said targeted infrastructure and killed dozens of senior regime figures at a compound in Tehran— NetBlocks CEO Alp Toker confirmed connectivity started «flatlining.»

«We’re tracking the ongoing blackout, but our assessment is that this is straight out of Iran’s wartime playbook and consistent both technically and strategically with what we saw during the 2025 Twelve-Day War with Israel,» Toker told Fox News Digital.

«Iran’s internet connectivity is now flatlining around the 1% level, so the original blackout the regime imposed during the morning has been consolidated,» he confirmed.

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«The blackout was imposed just after 7:00 UTC, not long after the attack on the Iranian regime compound,» Toker clarified, adding that Iran had been largely offline for approximately 12 hours following the attack.

«At 06:10 UTC, there is the main compound strike; at 07:10 UTC, telecoms disruption starts; at 08:00 UTC, the blackout is largely in effect; and by 08:30 UTC, connectivity flatlines.»

«Wartime national blackouts are exceedingly rare around the world, and it’s something we’ve only really seen at this scale in Iran,» he said.

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President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Iran following an Israeli strike in Tehran on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.  (@WhiteHouse/X)

In the wake of the attack, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the «heavy and pinpoint» bombing in Iran «will continue uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!»

He claimed Iranian security forces and members of the regime’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were already seeking immunity. He urged them to «peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots.»

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«We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces no longer want to fight and are looking for Immunity from us,» Trump said in the post. «As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity; later they only get Death!’»

Toker argued the timing of the blackout suggested it was imposed deliberately as the regime sought to secure communications amid fears of further targeting.

TRUMP TELLS IRANIANS THE ‘HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND’ AS US-ISRAEL LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST IRAN

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Smoke rising over Tehran

TEHRAN, IRAN – FEBRUARY 28: Smoke rises over the city center after an Israeli army launches 2nd wave of airstrikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)

«The Iranian regime will have deployed this new blackout to counter potential cyberattacks during their own military operation, but also to avoid leaking the locations of senior regime figures through metadata and user-generated content,» he said.

«Communications would have been limited, and Iran’s leadership would have proceeded with the assumption that all communications, including satellite or whitelisted networks, carry risks,» he said before claiming that «paranoia would be well grounded at this point, with the blackout a belated but direct response to that.»

«Those participating directly would already know to avoid technology that could betray their whereabouts,» Toker said.

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«However, the metadata may well have played a part in determining that the meeting of regime leaders was being held at the Tehran compound, who was in attendance, and at what time.»

DID THEY GET HIM? KHAMENEI’S FATE REMAINS UNKNOWN AFTER ISRAEL-US STRIKE LEVELS HIS COMPOUND

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In this handout image provided by the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addresses the nation in a state television broadcast on June 18, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.  (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images)

Toker revealed that the broader network around the regime leaders and around the compound wouldn’t have had the same strict restrictions.

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«This kind of adjacent ‘background noise’ can be correlated against other intelligence sources to build an understanding of activity on the ground,» he added.

«Smartphones are a readily available, almost ‘free’ source of intelligence, and even when locked down, they eventually connect to international online services and generate insights that can be used to pinpoint regime figures,» Toker said.

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«In the aftermath of Saturday’s strike, this concern will have been high on the remaining Iranian leadership’s minds, especially if they didn’t have a clear and specific understanding of how the meeting was compromised.»

Iran has previously imposed sweeping internet shutdowns during periods of domestic unrest, including nationwide protests in January, which saw thousands killed, often seeking to curb the spread of information and restrict coordination.

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