India, March 10 -- A federal judge has delivered a major setback to the administration of Donald Trump by ruling that the three prosecutors appointed to lead the US attorney's office in New Jersey were appointed illegally.

The three lawyers had been put in charge after Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer stepped down from the position. Courts had earlier ruled that Habba could not continue in the role because she had never received the required Senate confirmation.

US District Judge Matthew Brann has ruled that Attorney General Pam Bondi did not have the authority to appoint three lawyers to run the office together.

After Habba's resignation, Bondi split the leadership of the New Jersey US attorney's office among Justice Depart...