A suspect accused of attacking the Newark office of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba was arrested Saturday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. The FBI identified the man as 51-year-old Keith Michael Lisa, a California native with ties to New York City and Mahwah, New Jersey. Lisa was taken into custody less than 48 hours after being charged with entering a federal building with a dangerous weapon and damaging federal property. Authorities said he had entered the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building on November 12 with a baseball bat, returning after being denied entry and later damaging property inside Habba’s office. Habba was unharmed.
Bondi praised federal agencies for the swift arrest, emphasizing that intimidation or violence against U.S. Attorneys will not be tolerated. Habba also thanked law enforcement, saying she would not be intimidated for doing her job. Officials described Lisa as over six feet tall and previously considered dangerous. The FBI has not released a motive, but the incident was described as a rare direct attack on a federal prosecutor’s office and caused visible property damage before security intervened.
The case comes amid rising threats against federal officials since Trump’s return to office. Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel warned that politically motivated aggression against law enforcement is increasing nationwide. Habba, who oversees federal prosecutions across New Jersey, is responsible for more than 150 prosecutors and 130 staff members. Federal authorities said the arrest underscores new efforts to bolster security at federal buildings and ensure that attempts to intimidate public servants are met with swift legal action.