Alina Habba launches probe into NJ Gov Phil Murphy over his opposition to Trump's immigration enforcement

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY: Alina Habba, the acting Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has issued a warning to the state’s Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin over their opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions.

Appearing on Sean Hannity’s show ‘Hannity’ on Fox News on Thursday, April 10, Habba, a former attorney and Donald Trump aide, called for an open investigation into Murphy and Platfin. 

Calling for the investigation into the Democratic governor, the 41-year-old Habba boldly declared that she wanted it to be a “warning” for everyone who opposes the Trump administration’s executive order, Mediaite reported.

Alina Habba calls for an investigation into NJ Gov Phil Murphy

Before Alina Habba boldly called for the investigation, Sean Hannity started his interview with a report stating that Murphy and Platkin had ordered state police officers not to carry out warrants in a federal database. 

He further added that the New Jersey state police have reportedly been told that, unless ordered by a court, they should not cooperate with the federal officials to enforce civil immigration actions. 

Joining the show, the White House presidential counselor denounced the NJ governor’s list of “dos and don’ts for his local state law enforcement,” and said, “And unfortunately, I will announce on your show tonight, Sean, and I want it to be a warning for everybody that I have instructed my office today to open an investigation into Governor Murphy, to open an investigation into Attorney General Platkin, who was also instructed the state police not to assist any of our federal… agencies under that are under my direction…”

She continued, “That will no longer stand. [US Attorney General] Pam Bondi has made it clear and so has our president that we are to take all criminals, violent criminals and criminals [sic] out of this country and to completely enforce federal law.”

“And anybody who does get in that way in the way of what we are doing, which is not political, it is simply against crime, will be charged in the state of New Jersey for obstruction, for concealment. And I will come after hard,” announced the interim US attorney for New Jersey, who was sworn in on March 28.

Alina Habba warns anyone who orders ‘concealment’ will be charged

The New Jersey native, who has regularly represented Donald Trump in his court cases, further declared that anyone who “ordered obstruction” would face prosecution. 

When Hannity brought up the Supremacy Clause and suggested that this provision would probably require state and local police to act alongside the federal government, Habba emphatically said, “That’s correct."

Adding that the New Jersey police are under her ambit, Habba said, “And let me tell you, to my state officers in New Jersey, some of whom I met with today, I appreciate and respect what you can and cannot do. They don’t have Title VIII authority. I understand that.”

“But what they have been instructed to do by the AG and the governor as is on their website, is to not even make the phone call to ICE when they run the record and see there is a valid warrant and administrative warrant ordering deportation,” noted the attorney, before declaring, “That is putting the people in my state in jeopardy.”

“And if you did commit a crime, if you ordered obstruction, if you are ordering concealment and harboring, you will be charged,” concluded Habba while warning that anybody who chooses to defy might get prosecuted. 

Phil Murphy says they're 'willing to try anything if it’s contrary to our values' 

Governor Phil Murphy, who has previously talked about thwarting ICE agents attempting to make apprehensions near his home, said in a press conference after Trump was elected as the president, “There was a time when ICE was just randomly showing up on street corners and apprehending… brothers and sisters from the immigrant community," according to the New York Post.

He further added that he attempted, and allegedly succeeded in preventing a raid with the help of his taxpayer-funded bodyguards. 

“I just went there one night with my detail and just hung out there,” said Murphy, before continuing, “Whether that scared them off or not I don’t know but it’s an example of a small step that we’re willing to try anything if it’s contrary to our values.”