A man was arrested after federal authorities say he destroyed property in an attempt to confront New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, Alina Haba, an ally of President Donald Trump.
The FBI has arrested Keith Michael Risa, 51, FBI spokeswoman Emily Molinari confirmed Saturday.
Molinari did not say when or where Lisa was arrested, what charges she faces, whether she is in jail or when she will appear before a judge. It is unclear whether Lisa is represented by an attorney. The federal public defender’s office in Newark, New Jersey, did not immediately respond to an electronic message Saturday asking if it represented Lisa.
The FBI on Friday offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information about Lisa, who is wanted on charges of destruction of government property and possession of a dangerous weapon on a U.S. court facility. The newspaper said he tried to enter the federal building in downtown Newark with a baseball bat on Wednesday and was turned away. According to the paper, Lisa returned without the bat and was hospitalized. He then went to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where Haba works, and destroyed property, the newspaper reported.
Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said Saturday that the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations assisted in Lisa’s arrest.
“No one will get away with threatening America’s great lawyers or destroying their offices,” Bondi wrote.
Mr. Haba previously served as Mr. Trump’s personal attorney, representing him in various lawsuits and serving as his spokesperson on legal matters. She briefly served as White House Counsel until the president appointed an interim U.S. attorney in March.
“We got him” on Saturday. “The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, and our federal partners will not tolerate any threats or acts of violence against law enforcement. We sincerely thank the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations for their tireless efforts to apprehend him. Justice will now deal with him.”
Bondi previously wrote that “any violence or threat of violence against federal employees will not be tolerated,” vowing that federal agents would find and prosecute the perpetrators.
President Trump formally nominated Mr. Hubba as permanent U.S. attorney for New Jersey on July 1, but the confirmation process was stalled due to opposition from the state’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim.
A few weeks later, as Haba’s 120-day interim appointment expired, a federal judge in New Jersey moved to replace her as second in command. Bondi then fired the prosecutor and renamed Haba deputy U.S. attorney.
Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit heard arguments in a lawsuit challenging Mr. Hubba’s appointment. It is not controlled.
