A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver for allegedly assaulting regulation enforcement officers outdoors of an immigration detention facility final month, officers introduced Tuesday.
The three-count indictment expenses the Democratic congresswoman with “forcibly impeding and interfering with federal regulation enforcement officers” on the facility, New Jersey U.S. Legal professional Alina Habba mentioned in a put up on X.
“As I’ve said previously, it’s my Constitutional obligation because the Chief Federal Regulation Enforcement Officer for New Jersey to make sure that our federal companions are protected when executing their duties,” Habba mentioned. “Whereas individuals are free to precise their views for or towards explicit insurance policies, they need to not achieve this in a fashion that endangers regulation enforcement and the communities these officers serve.”
The indictment is a typical procedural step after Habba’s workplace charged McIver by way of a felony grievance final month.
McIver has vowed she’s going to battle the costs and plans to plead not responsible.
“The information of this case will show I used to be merely doing my job and can expose these proceedings for what they’re: a brazen try at political intimidation,” she mentioned in an announcement on X. “This indictment isn’t any extra justified than the unique expenses, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE prompted and scare me out of doing the work I used to be elected to do. But it surely will not work — I can’t be intimidated.”
Police physique cam picture of New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver outdoors of an ICE detention facility, in Newark, N.J., Could 9, 2025.
United States District Court docket/District of New Jersey
On Could 9, McIver and some different members of Congress had been at Delaney Corridor, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, to conduct oversight.
Tensions escalated when a federal officer ordered Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to depart a secured space of the ability or face arrest, and pushing and shoving allegedly occurred, in keeping with prosecutors.
“Throughout her continued makes an attempt to thwart the arrest, McIver slammed her forearm into the physique of 1 regulation enforcement officer and in addition reached out and tried to restrain that officer by forcibly grabbing him,” the Division of Justice mentioned in a press launch on Tuesday. “McIver additionally used every of her forearms to forcibly strike a second officer.”
Following the costs by way of felony grievance, McIver alleged in an announcement that the choice was politically motivated.
“The fees towards me are purely political — they mischaracterize and deform my actions, and are supposed to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” McIver mentioned.
Prime Home Democrats additionally launched a joint assertion final month defending McIver, vowing to “vigorously” reply to what they are saying is an illegitimate abuse of energy.
“An assault on certainly one of us is an assault on the American folks. Home Democrats will reply vigorously within the days to come back at a time, place and method of our selecting,” the leaders mentioned.
If convicted, the utmost penalty for the costs within the indictment ranges from one to eight years, Habba mentioned.
Baraka was arrested on the facility and charged with trespassing, although Habba later dropped the cost.
