Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) is facing federal charges of assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement after a May 9 visit to the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark.
McIver toured the facility with Democratic Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.) and Robert Menendez Jr. (N.J.) for congressional oversight. The trip took place amid reports of invalid permits, issues with plumbing and electricity and fire code violations at the center.
Upon their exit, a scuffle ensued with ICE agents who were attempting to block protestors from entering the gates. Recorded footage shows people shoving and pushing one another as law enforcement officials detained Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D-N.J.), for trespassing.
Charges against him were later dropped but officials later chose to pursue a case against McIver.
Alina Habba, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced the charges on Monday after a slew of media coverage regarding the incident outside the Newark ICE facility.
“That conduct cannot be overlooked by the chief federal law enforcement official in the State of New Jersey, and it is my Constitutional obligation to ensure that our federal law enforcement is protected when executing their duties,” Habba wrote in a Monday post on X.
“I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined.”
Video footage shows McIver sideswiping officials attempting to restrain her, though they also appear to show law enforcement pushing the lawmaker.
McIver declined to accept an offer for a plea deal from the acting district attorney, according to reports from CNN.
“ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka. The charges against me are purely political—they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” McIver, who’s in her first term, wrote in a Monday statement on X.
“This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court,” she continued.
Several groups have spoken out in defense of McIver in addition to Democratic House leadership.
“The criminal charge against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is extreme, morally bankrupt and lacks any basis in law or fact,” read the statement, signed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.), Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.).
Other groups echoed their concerns.
“It is clear that this administration has no interest in keeping people, especially women, safe. They are trying to make an example out of Congresswoman McIver with purely political charges. It is absurd,” members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus said in a statement.
“These charges mischaracterize and distort Congresswoman McIver’s actions. By charging her, this administration is trying to silence dissent and instill fear in the American people and Members of Congress as we work to hold the administration accountable,” they continued.
The Congressional Black Caucus dubbed Habba’s filing as “bogus charges” they said would “ultimately fail” in court.
“I understand that the U.S. Attorney has chosen to charge Congresswoman LaMonica McIver with assaulting law enforcement,” Baraka wrote in a Monday evening post on X.
“Congresswoman McIver is a daughter of Newark, past Newark Council President, a former student of mine, and a dear friend. I want to be clear: I stand with LaMonica, and I fully expect her to be vindicated.”
