The incident raises questions about the separation of powers, executive authority over justice and the independence of federal prosecutions.

President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Alina Habba — who until the last few months had zero prosecutorial experience — is the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

The maneuver by the Justice Department to change her status from interim to acting may keep Habba leading the office for the next 210 days.

By withdrawing her nomination to the permanent position, President Trump was able to reinstall Alina Habba as the interim U.S. attorney in New Jersey, where she can serve another 210 days.