Judge Quraishi Demands Answers from Justice Dept. Officials

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A federal judge in New Jersey lost his patience with the Justice Department's handling

of prosecutions in the state.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Zahid Karaiishi ordered three officials running the U.S.

attorney's office to testify under oath.

He also threw a government attorney out of the courtroom during a hearing.

This stems from a recent ruling by another judge that the Trump administration's move

to replace interim U.S. attorney, Alina Habba, with those three.

Officials violated the Constitution's appointments clause.

The trio, known as Philip Lamperello, Jordan Fox, and Ari Fontecchio, remains in charge

while the government appeals.

The Alpers happened as Karaiishi prepared to sentence a man for possessing child sexual

abuse material.

He called the investigation sloppy and criticized prosecutors for rushing a plea deal before

the FBI finished its work.

The sentencing got postponed.

Karaiishi told the lead prosecutor that the office had lost the court's trust, along

with the local legal communities and the public's confidence.

He questioned claims about who was really calling the shots and demanded answers from

the three officials.

They must appear in Trenton on May 4th.

If not satisfied, the judge may call Habba and even deputy attorney general Todd Blanche

to testify.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department called the judge's actions courtroom theatrics that

heard public safety efforts.

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