Intruder arrested twice in same day outside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s California home

A 28-year-old real estate agent was arrested and released after entering the California property of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday morning and then arrested again later that afternoon when he returned, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Jonathan Macht, of Pacific Palisades, was arrested in the 2900 block of Mandeville Canyon Road about 9:30 a.m. on suspicion of trespassing and issued an emergency protective order, according to police. Macht was released and, at around 5:45 p.m. that same day, detained by security from Gavin de Becker & Associates outside the same location, according to law enforcement.

De Becker, Kennedy’s security firm, had notified the Secret Service about “this specific obsessed individual” several times in recent months and shared communications he’s sent to the candidate, Kennedy’s campaign said.

Macht did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Kennedy, an independent candidate for president, wrote about the incident on Thursday, arguing that it was further evidence that he needs Secret Service protection for his campaign.

“Yesterday an intruder climbed the fence at my home and was arrested,” Kennedy wrote on X. “After being released from police custody later in the day, he immediately returned to my home and was arrested again.”

Kennedy’s campaign said in a statement that that candidate was home at the time of both arrests. Macht told security he was there to speak with the candidate, Kennedy’s campaign said.

A former employer of Macht’s said he was shocked by the news.

“That seems extremely out of character,” said Billy Snow, who owns a Los Angeles construction company where Macht worked managing construction jobs for about a year in 2019 and 2020.

Snow described Macht as the “nicest, sweetest, smartest, book nerd kid.”

Snow said he and Macht did talk politics.

“I thought he was a Trump supporter,” Snow said. “We were just talking about how the economy was doing good when Trump was there. He was like, ‘Hopefully we’ll have another Trump in office.”

Snow said he never heard Macht talk about Kennedy. "I have no idea if he’s obsessed," he said.

Macht left Snow’s company because his real estate career was taking off.

“He was kicking ass — he’s like ‘Mr. Palisades’ — he grew up there. He knows it like the back of his hand,” Snow said.

Macht is a licensed real estate broker. The website for his Pacific Palisades-based firm Rodeo Realty features “notable transactions” of seven-figure sales including a beachfront property in Malibu.

Julia Marsh contributed to this report.