Federal authorities are investigating an incident at the Peter Rodino Federal Building in Newark after an unidentified man attempted to reach acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and later damaged property inside the office area. According to multiple accounts from officials, the man first arrived at the federal building on Wednesday night carrying a baseball bat. Security personnel denied him entry at that time. Later that same evening, however, the man returned without the bat, and he was allowed into the building after going through the standard security screening. Officials say he proceeded to the floor where the U.S. Attorney’s Office is located and entered the public foyer of the office suite, which is accessible through unlocked glass doors. A receptionist who was positioned behind secure glass spoke with him when he said he wished to meet with Habba, telling him that because he did not have an appointment, he would not be able to see her.
According to officials, the man remained in the foyer for a short period after that and never gained access to the interior prosecutors’ offices, which are secured behind a locked door that requires a buzzer for access. After waiting, he abruptly left the foyer and walked into the hallway outside the office where he pulled down at least two pictures from the wall in the shared corridor. Accounts from law enforcement and federal sources indicate that he then left the building before security officers could intervene further. No physical injuries were reported.
Investigators are now reviewing security footage from inside and around the building in an effort to identify the man. Officials have described him as acting in a disgruntled or agitated manner, though the reason for his attempt to meet with Habba remains unclear. His motive for initially arriving with a baseball bat also has not been determined. As of the latest updates provided by officials, the man has not been located.
Federal and local personnel are working together to examine the timeline of events, including his first attempt to enter the building, his return without the bat and his brief presence inside the office foyer. The extent of the property damage was not fully assessed, though the actions he took in the hallway were visible on camera, according to officials familiar with the review.
Both Habba and Attorney General Pam Bondi released statements via their X accounts. Habba wrote that she refused “to be intimidated by radical lunatics,” while Bondi wrote that she was thankful Habba was unharmed. She also wrote that she would not tolerate threats made toward officials.
The incident occurred during a period in which Habba continues to serve in an acting capacity as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey. She has held the role since March, initially under a temporary appointment. The president later nominated her to remain in the position permanently, but that nomination is undergoing a legal challenge. She has stayed in the role while the matter proceeds through the appeals process.
Sources: WNBC, NBC News, CBS News
