Iraqi-American lawyer defends ideological legacy of former US leader
As former US president Donald Trump prepared to appear in a New York court yesterday, attention turned to his legal team.
Alina Habba, a New Jersey lawyer of Iraqi descent, is not involved in Mr Trump’s trial, but she has led a series of defence investigations to clear his name.
Born in the US, Ms Habba is the managing partner of law firm Habba Madaio and Associates. She has played a vital role in defending Mr Trump during his impeachment and her efforts helped to win an acquittal.
Ms Habba, 39, joined Mr Trump’s legal team in September 2021, after working at a small law firm in New Jersey, located near the former president’s Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, about 55km west of Newark.
She was brought in to replace lawyers who represented the former president for years, including Marc Kasowitz and Charles Harder.
In a social media post on Instagram, Ms Habba added a picture of herself with Mr Trump celebrating her birthday with a cake.
“Starting this year with amazing patriots at the rally in Texas with the greatest presidents of all time,” she wrote.
Ms Habba is also the senior adviser for Maga, a group that backs Mr Trump’s political agenda and beliefs. For his latest court case, Mr Trump has hired high-profile criminal lawyer Joe Tacopina.
Mr Trump’s court appearance has started an intense legal battle as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate also looks to plot a course to return to the White House.
Ms Habba identifies herself as an Arab American Catholic whose family comes from Iraq and has said she is “very religious”.
Her family were forced to leave the country in the early 1980s to escape persecutions against Christians.
Her father, Saad Habba, is a gastroenterologist whose work has gained recognition.
The UK’s Queen Elizabeth II appointed Mr Habba as an Officer of the Royal Order, and the Irish government has granted him a coat of arms.
He is also a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Ms Habba has two children. Her husband is a commercial real estate investor.