The Justice Department is searching for an individual who allegedly attempted to “confront” Alina Habba, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, after entering and vandalizing her office — an incident that has raised concerns about the escalating hostility facing federal officials, particularly those taking on politically sensitive cases.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the episode in a sharply worded statement on X. “Last night, an individual attempted to confront one of our U.S. Attorneys — my dear friend @USAttyHabba — destroyed property in her office, and then fled the scene,” Bondi wrote. “Thankfully, Alina is ok. Any violence or threats of violence against any federal officer will not be tolerated. Period.” She added that the department “will use every legal tool available to ensure their safety and hold violent offenders fully accountable,” vowing, “We will find this person, and the individual will be brought to justice.”
For Habba, the incident appears to underscore the personal risks increasingly faced by high-profile officials who are willing to take on contentious prosecutions. In her own message on X, Habba was defiant. She said she would “not be intimidated by radical lunatics for doing my job.”
Habba, a longtime Trump ally and former personal attorney to the president, has become a prominent figure in New Jersey’s federal law enforcement landscape. After serving briefly in the White House, she was appointed as interim U.S. attorney, though her status remains complicated. She has not been confirmed by the Senate, and President Trump has since withdrawn her nomination.
Because interim U.S. attorneys are limited to 120 days in the role, Habba has been reassigned to various positions within the U.S. attorney’s office. Judges reviewing her status have disqualified her from serving as U.S. attorney, though that ruling is currently on hold pending appeal. Despite these disputes, Habba remains a central figure in ongoing prosecutions.
We will find this person, and the individual will be brought to justice.
Our federal prosecutors, agents, and law-enforcement partners put their lives on the line every day to protect the American people, and this Department will use every legal tool available to ensure their…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) November 13, 2025
Among the most notable cases she is overseeing is the prosecution of Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey. Prosecutors accuse McIver of attacking law enforcement officers “with her forearms” during a chaotic episode that unfolded as Democrats attempted to visit an immigration detention center. The case has drawn attention both for its politically charged context and for McIver’s claim that she is being vindictively prosecuted.
A federal judge rejected those claims on Thursday, ruling that the case can proceed. The decision gives further support to Habba’s efforts as she navigates both legal and political challenges in the role.
The attempted confrontation in her office, however, has added a new layer of concern about the climate confronting federal officials — particularly those seen as aligned with the Trump administration’s priorities or willing to pursue cases involving politically powerful figures. For Bondi and others, the message is clear: violence and intimidation will not dictate the work of the Justice Department.
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