Federal Agents Apprehend Suspect in Prosecutor's Office Incident
Federal authorities in the United States have arrested a 51-year-old New Jersey man following an alleged incident at the office of acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. Keith Michael Lisa was taken into custody after being sought by the FBI on charges related to destroying government property and possessing a dangerous weapon inside a federal court facility.
The Sequence of Events Leading to Arrest
According to an FBI bulletin, the situation began on Wednesday when Lisa allegedly attempted to enter a federal office building in downtown Newark carrying a bat. He was reportedly turned away by security. However, officials state he returned shortly afterwards without the bat and was granted access to the building. It is alleged that he then proceeded to the U.S. Attorney's office, where Alina Habba works, and caused damage to property.
The FBI had publicly escalated their search for Lisa on Friday, announcing a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his location. His arrest was confirmed on Saturday by FBI spokesperson Emily Molinari, though specific details regarding the arrest location, timing, and his initial court appearance remain undisclosed. It is also currently unclear if Lisa has legal representation.
High-Profile Response and Political Context
The arrest prompted immediate responses from high-ranking officials. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media platform X to announce the collaborative effort between the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. "No one will get away with threatening or intimidating our great U.S. attorneys or the destruction of their offices," Bondi declared.
Alina Habba, who previously served as personal lawyer to former President Donald Trump, also posted on X, stating, "We got him... This Justice Department... will not tolerate any acts of intimidation or violence toward law enforcement." She expressed gratitude towards the federal agencies involved in the capture.
Habba's appointment as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor has been a subject of political contention. While Trump formally nominated her for the permanent role in July, the process has been stalled due to opposition from the state's two Democratic U.S. senators. Her current status as acting U.S. attorney is itself the subject of a legal challenge that was recently heard by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has yet to issue a ruling.
