Suspect Arrested in Attack on Trump Ally’s Office

Federal authorities moved quickly this week to apprehend the man accused of launching a violent attack on the Newark office of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba — and by Saturday, the suspect was behind bars.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest Saturday, confirming that the suspected attacker, identified by the FBI as 51-year-old Keith Michael Lisa, was taken into custody less than two days after federal charges were filed. Lisa, a California native with connections to New York City and Mahwah, New Jersey, is accused of storming into a federal building armed with a baseball bat and causing extensive damage to 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 posted on X. “No one will get away with threatening or intimidating our great U.S. Attorneys or destroying their offices.”

According to the FBI, Lisa first approached the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building on November 12 carrying a baseball bat. “After being denied entry, he discarded the bat and returned,” the agency said. “Once inside, he proceeded to the U.S. Attorney’s Office where he damaged government property.”

Federal prosecutors swiftly issued a warrant charging Lisa with possession of a dangerous weapon inside a federal facility and depredation of federal property — both serious offenses that carry significant penalties.

On Thursday, Bondi confirmed that an individual had “attempted to confront” Habba and had “destroyed property” before fleeing the scene. Habba was unharmed, though her office sustained “visible damage,” according to officials.

Following Lisa’s arrest, Habba released her own statement, praising the rapid federal response and making clear she has no intention of backing down.

“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.”

Earlier in the week, Habba had issued an unfiltered warning to would-be agitators: “I will not be intimidated by radical lunatics for doing my job.”

FBI Director Kash Patel similarly applauded the multi-agency effort, emphasizing that the attack wasn’t merely an assault on a building, but on the rule of law itself.

“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.”

Federal authorities described Lisa as a tall, heavyset man — approximately 6’3” and between 200 and 230 pounds — with a history tied to multiple states. Before his arrest, he was considered dangerous.

The assault stands out as a rare and brazen attack on a federal prosecutor’s office. Officials have not released a motive, but the case comes at a moment when President Donald J. Trump’s administration, now in its second term, has been confronting a surge in politically motivated threats targeting federal law-enforcement officials.

Bondi warned Thursday that this trend is only escalating.

“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 — sworn in as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in March after previously serving as a legal adviser to President Trump — oversees federal prosecutions across Newark, Camden, and Trenton, supervising roughly 155 federal prosecutors and 130 staff.

In recent months, the Justice Department has documented a sharp rise in threats against prosecutors, FBI agents, and judges, many emerging from high-profile, politically sensitive cases. The administration has already begun expanding security measures at federal sites nationwide.

Bondi reaffirmed that the swift arrest should send a clear message.

“Today’s arrest ensures that those who think they can intimidate federal officers will face the full weight of the law,” she said. “Justice has been served swiftly.”