FBI Arrests Man Who Targeted US Attorney Habba

Federal authorities have arrested the man accused of storming the New Jersey office of acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, in what officials describe as a politically charged act of intimidation against one of the most high-profile prosecutors in President Donald J. Trump’s Justice Department.

The Justice Department confirmed Friday that Keith Michael Lisa, a man with ties to both New Jersey and New York City, was taken into custody after allegedly attempting to “confront” Habba and smashing property inside her office suite.

Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the swift action by federal law enforcement, highlighting the seriousness with which the Trump administration responds to threats against federal officers.
“Thanks to the great work of @FBI, @USMarshalsHQ, and @HSI_HQ the suspect wanted in the attack on @USAttyHabba’s office is now in custody. No one will get away with threatening or intimidating our great US Attorneys or the destruction of their offices,” Bondi declared.

FBI Director Kash Patel echoed that message, underscoring that intimidation campaigns against federal prosecutors would be met with a forceful response.
“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,” he said.

According to law enforcement, Lisa first approached Habba’s office armed with a baseball bat but was stopped before gaining entry. He later returned without the weapon and allegedly made his way to the floor where Habba’s office is located, attempting yet again to “confront” the prosecutor, Bondi explained.

“Last night, an individual attempted to confront one of our U.S. Attorneys — my dear friend @USAttyHabba — destroyed property in her office, and then fled the scene. Thankfully, Alina is ok. Any violence or threats of violence against any federal officer will not be tolerated. Period,” Bondi said earlier in the week, before the suspect was identified and arrested.

“We will find this person, and the individual will be brought to justice,” she vowed. “This Department will use every legal tool available to ensure their safety and hold violent offenders fully accountable.”

Habba, a longtime Trump ally and former personal attorney to the President, responded defiantly to the attempted attack, writing on X:
She would “not be intimidated by radical lunatics for doing my job.”

Her appointment as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor followed her advisory role during President Trump’s first term and her brief service inside the White House.

The Case Behind the Tensions

Habba currently oversees the high-stakes federal case against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who is accused of striking immigration officers during a tense confrontation when Democratic lawmakers attempted to enter a New Jersey immigration detention facility.

A judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors may proceed, dismissing McIver’s claims that the charges represent political retaliation.

The case has intensified scrutiny after several Department of Homeland Security posts on X criticizing McIver’s conduct were removed under an order issued by Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper.

McIver, who faces up to 17 years in prison, has pleaded not guilty. She claims protection under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, despite video evidence reportedly showing her physically shoving and striking a federal ICE officer.

Following the May incident, DHS issued multiple statements and social-media posts condemning the actions of McIver and other Democratic lawmakers who attempted to access the Delaney Hall facility. Her legal team responded by demanding that the government cease what they called “extrajudicial statements” that could influence public opinion, citing numerous posts on X and an official press release, as reported by the New Jersey Globe and Newsweek.

In an October 30 filing, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that DHS complied with the judge’s directive.
“As of this afternoon, the posts referenced in Defense Exhibits N through U have been removed,” he wrote, while noting that another post remained online because it “appears to be controlled by a journalist and private citizen, and the Government lacks the authority to remove the post.”