This article may contain commentary
which reflects the author’s opinion.
A suspect accused of attacking the office of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in Newark, New Jersey, was taken into custody Saturday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced.
The FBI identified the suspect as Keith Michael Lisa, 51, a California native with ties to New York City and Mahwah, New Jersey. Federal agents said Lisa was arrested less than 48 hours after being charged with entering a federal building while carrying a dangerous weapon and damaging government property.
“Thanks to the great work of the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and Homeland Security Investigations, the suspect wanted in the attack on U.S. Attorney Habba’s office is now in custody,” Bondi said on X. “No one will get away with threatening or intimidating our great U.S. Attorneys or destroying their offices.”
The FBI said Lisa entered the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building in Newark on November 12 with a baseball bat. “After being denied entry, he discarded the bat and returned,” the bureau said in a statement. “Once inside, he proceeded to the U.S. Attorney’s Office where he damaged government property.”
A federal warrant was issued Thursday for Lisa’s arrest in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on two charges — possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and depredation of federal property.
Bondi confirmed on Thursday that an individual had “attempted to confront” Habba in her office and “destroyed property” before fleeing. Habba was not injured.
In a statement following Lisa’s arrest, Habba thanked law enforcement and vowed not to be intimidated. “We got him,” she wrote on X. “This Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi and our federal partners will not tolerate any acts of intimidation or violence toward law enforcement. Now justice will handle him.”
Habba also said earlier in the week, “I will not be intimidated by radical lunatics for doing my job.”
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the swift coordination among agencies. “Today’s arrest shows what coordinated federal law enforcement can do,” Patel said. “Threats against our U.S. Attorneys aren’t just attacks on individuals, they’re attacks on the rule of law. And we will respond every time.”
Authorities described Lisa as about 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing between 200 and 230 pounds. He was listed as having prior connections to both New York City and Mahwah, N.J., and was considered dangerous before his arrest.
The attack marked a rare direct assault on a federal prosecutor’s office. Officials said the suspect caused “visible damage” to property inside Habba’s suite before security intervened. The FBI has not disclosed a motive for the incident.
Bondi said in her initial remarks Thursday that the case reflects a troubling rise in politically motivated threats against federal officials.
“Any violence or threats of violence against any federal officer will not be tolerated. Period,” she said. “This is unfortunately becoming a trend as radicals continue to attack law enforcement agents around the country.”
Habba, who was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in March, oversees federal prosecutions and civil litigation in the state, including offices in Newark, Camden, and Trenton. She previously served as a legal adviser to President Donald Trump and was appointed by Attorney General Bondi earlier this year.
The Justice Department said Habba supervises approximately 155 federal prosecutors and 130 staff members across the district.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Justice Department, which has faced a surge in threats since Trump’s return to office. Federal authorities have documented dozens of incidents targeting judges, prosecutors, and FBI officials since early 2025, many of them linked to politically charged cases. The administration has moved to expand security measures at federal buildings nationwide, citing the increased risk of violence against public servants.
“Today’s arrest ensures that those who think they can intimidate federal officers will face the full weight of the law,” Bondi said in a follow-up statement. “Justice has been served swiftly.”
