According to the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver is facing assault charges following a confrontation with federal officers outside of an immigration detention facility.
According to a social media post by Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, McIver is facing charges of assault, obstruction, and interference with law enforcement. However, the court documents that would provide more details regarding these charges were not immediately made public or released online.
Rarely do federal criminal charges other than fraud or corruption land a sitting congressman in court, as in the case of McIver, as The Hill reported.
"It’s political intimidation, and I’m looking forward to my day in court,” she said Tuesday. McIver had called the charges “purely political” in a statement on Monday night and said she looked forward “to the truth being laid out clearly in court.”
She continued by stating that she and her coworkers were reacting to inappropriate behavior by law enforcement.
“Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district. We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short," the lawmaker said.
"Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka,” she said.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche came to Habba’s aid in a statement on X, saying that “assaults on federal law enforcement will not be tolerated.”
Newark mayoral candidate Ras Baraka was arrested on May 9, along with McIver and two other House Democrats, but Habba says her office has withdrawn the trespassing charges against him.
"After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka's misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward," Habba said.
I echo what @USAttyHabba has made clear: assaults on federal law enforcement will not be tolerated. This Administration will always protect those who work tirelessly to keep America safe. https://t.co/v8bMYwtY7i
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) May 20, 2025
After the DOJ filed the charges against the Democrat for her alleged assault on police officers, Republican Representative Nancy Mace made the announcement that she had submitted a resolution to oust McIver from Congress.
According to Mace, "Mclver didn't just break the law, she attacked the very people who defend it.
"Attacking Homeland Security and ICE agents isn't just disgraceful, it's assault. If any other American did what she did, they'd be in handcuffs.
McIver thinks being a member of Congress puts her above the law. It doesn't. She should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace files a resolution to expel Rep. LaMonica McIver after the DOJ charged the Democrat with allegedly assaulting law enforcement: pic.twitter.com/Zfa3CrMLsG
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) May 21, 2025
