Topline
A person who tried to confront acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba is at large, according to a statement from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said property in Habba’s office was destroyed during the incident.
Habba’s role as a U.S. attorney is being challenged in court. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Bondi said Habba is “ok” after the individual attempted to confront her.
Law enforcement has not found the individual, according to Bondi, who said they “will be brought to justice” and that “violence or threats of violence against any federal officer will not be tolerated.”
A man with a bat was stopped from entering Habba’s Newark, New Jersey, office, but he later returned without the bat and was allowed to enter the building, according to The New York Times, which cited two unnamed people with knowledge of the matter.
The man went to the floor where Habba’s office is located and “began yelling incoherently and smashing property,” the Times reported, noting it was unclear if he made direct threats against Habba.
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Who Is Alina Habba?
Habba is a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, representing him in a defamation lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll and Trump’s civil fraud trial. Habba was appointed the interim U.S. Attorney in March and following her 120-day term, her Senate confirmation faced resistance from multiple lawmakers, leading to Trump pulling her nomination before the Senate could vote. A panel of judges in New Jersey appointed a different prosecutor instead of extending Habba, but the DOJ fired the prosecutor and allowed Habba to continue as second-in-command at the U.S. Attorney’s office. A federal judge ruled in August that Habba was exercising the duties of her office without lawful authority, with the DOJ still appealing the ruling.