Law enforcement authorities on Thursday were seeking a man who brought a bat to the office of the acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey, Alina Habba, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
The man appeared outside the Newark office on Wednesday evening but was barred by security from entering with the bat, the people said.
However, when the man returned without the bat, security officers allowed him to enter the building. He then went to the floor where Ms. Habba’s office is and began yelling incoherently and smashing property, the people said. It is unclear whether he made specific threats against Ms. Habba.
The U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi, acknowledged the man’s visit in a social media post on Thursday, saying that he had “destroyed property” and “then fled the scene.” She noted that Ms. Habba had not been harmed.
“Any violence or threats of violence against any federal officer will not be tolerated. Period,” Ms. Bondi said. “This is unfortunately becoming a trend as radicals continue to attack law enforcement agents around the country.”
Though it was not immediately clear whether the man was targeting Ms. Habba specifically, his appearance at the office raised the specter of another threat against a prominent political figure.
Threats and attacks on prominent figures from both sides of the aisle have become widespread. Recent examples include two attempts to assassinate President Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign; the fatal shooting of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September; an arson attack on the home of the Pennsylvania governor in April; and a hammer attack on the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Tracey Tully contributed reporting.
Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in the New York region for The Times. He is focused on political influence and its effect on the rule of law in the area’s federal and state courts.
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