New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver has been charged with assaulting law enforcement officers outside an ICE detention facility earlier this month, a move she deems “purely political.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charges against McIver on Monday, accusing her of assaulting and impeding a law enforcement officer during a protest at Delaney Hall in Newark on May 9. The protest involved several members of Congress and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who were advocating against immigration policies.
According to U.S. Attorney Habba, tensions escalated during the protest, leading to alleged pushing and shoving. “Representative LaMonica McIver assaulted, impeded, and interfered with law enforcement in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1),” Habba stated. “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.”
She emphasized, “No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise. It is the job of this office to uphold Justice, regardless of who you are. Now we will let the justice system work.”
President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter, calling McIver “out of control” while addressing reporters at the Capitol. “I have no idea who she is,” Trump remarked. “That woman was out of control. She was shoving federal agents. The days of that crap are over in this country. We’re going to have law and order.”
In response to the charges, McIver released a statement asserting that the allegations misrepresent her actions and are intended to undermine legislative oversight. “The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” McIver stated. “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.”
The complaint alleges that McIver attempted to “thwart the arrest” of Mayor Baraka, who was removed from the secured area of the facility, and claims that she made “forcible contact” with law enforcement, including allegedly striking a Homeland Security Investigations agent and pushing an ICE officer.
Evidence presented in the complaint includes multiple stills from body camera footage, purportedly showing McIver’s attempts to disrupt the agents as they attempted to take the Mayor into custody.
Notably, charges against Baraka were subsequently dropped by the U.S. attorney. He expressed support for McIver on social media, stating, “I want to be clear: I stand with LaMonica, and I fully expect her to be vindicated.”
Top House Democrats issued a joint statement Monday expressing their support for McIver and vowing to respond vigorously to what they labeled as an abuse of power. “An attack on one of us is an attack on the American people. House Democrats will respond vigorously in the days to come at a time, place and manner of our choosing,” they stated.
Additionally, the party leaders pointed out that McIver was allowed to tour the facility after the alleged incident, asserting, “There is no credible evidence that Rep. McIver engaged in any criminal activity, and she would not have been permitted to tour the facility had she done anything wrong.”
In contrast, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noted that the charges were initiated following a “thorough review of the video footage.” She emphasized on social media, “If any person, regardless of political party, influence or status, assaults a law enforcement officer as we witnessed Congresswoman McIver do, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We thank our brave ICE law enforcement officers for their service to this great nation.”