Trump had nominated Habba, whom he tapped on an interim basis in March, for the full-time appointment. But Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim used blue slips — which empower home-state senators to block U.S. attorney and District Court judge nominees — to keep her from advancing in the chamber.

Acting New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba blamed Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Thursday for some of her struggles to keep her job due to his refusal to end a bipartisan tradition on judicial nominees.