A former personal lawyer to US President Donald Trump resigned as a top federal prosecutor on Monday, a week after an appeals court ruled she had been serving unlawfully.

Alina Habba, 41, announced her resignation as acting US attorney for the District of New Jersey in a statement on X.

"I have decided to step down," Habba said. "But do not mistake compliance for surrender. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me."

Federal prosecutors are subject to Senate confirmation and New Jersey's two Democratic senators had opposed her nomination.

Trump sought to keep Habba in her position on an interim basis, but the appeals court ruled last week that her appointment violated the law regarding the filling of federal vacancies.

It was the second time in a w

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