McIver pleads not guilty to assault charges over Newark ICE visit
LaMonica McIver, a Democratic congresswoman from New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to federal assault charges related to an incident at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark. Teh charges stem from an altercation where McIver allegedly obstructed federal officers during an attempted arrest of newark mayor Ras Baraka, whom she is accused of assaulting. McIver faces a three-count indictment and could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted.
during her arraignment, which took place amid protests supporting her, Baraka criticized the charges as intimidation, asserting that they threaten democracy. Despite the legal challenges, McIver maintains her innocence and intends to fight the charges in court. The trial is set for November 10. The U.S. Attorney for New Jersey,who is prosecuting the case,faces an ethics complaint concerning her handling of the case.
LaMonica McIver pleads not guilty to assault charges over visit to Newark ICE facility
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) pleaded not guilty to the federal assault charges levied against the congresswoman over her visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark, New Jersey, where she allegedly obstructed federal officers from arresting the city’s mayor.
McIver denied the charges at her arraignment in Newark on Wednesday. McIver faces a three-count indictment for “assaulting, resisting, and impeding” Department of Homeland Security officials in the viral altercation outside the immigration facility last month.
The New Jersey Democrat is accused of slamming a federal agent with her forearm, forcibly grabbing him, and using her forearms to strike a second agent during the attempted arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was accused of trespassing before the criminal charge was dropped.
Baraka spoke out in support of McIver ahead of her court appearance on Wednesday, criticizing the charges against her.
“Democracy is in danger as a whole,” Baraka told protesters, who rallied outside the courthouse. “This has nothing to do with the law, this has nothing to do with justice … this is sheer intimidation, sheer bullying, this is their opportunity to put their foot on our necks to let people know that they are in charge.”
The crowd demanded the dismissal of all counts filed against McIver, who faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison if convicted.
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who were present with McIver during their visit to the ICE facility, face no charges. The three lawmakers were conducting congressional oversight of the Delaney Hall detention center on May 9 when the clash ensued.
Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, who previously represented President Donald Trump in court during his 2024 campaign, is leading the charges against McIver.
While McIver’s attorney claims that the prosecution is politically motivated, Habba argues that she is simply enforcing the law against someone who assaulted law enforcement officers.
Habba now faces an ethics complaint filed by the Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group. In the complaint, filed with the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics on Tuesday, the organization alleges that Habba acted improperly in charging McIver and arresting Baraka.
The interim U.S. attorney is also at the center of a lawsuit filed by Baraka, who decried the “malicious prosecution” against him after federal prosecutors dropped the trespassing charge.
McIver continues to condemn the charges and maintain her innocence, and her lawyer intends to challenge the allegations in court.
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“l pleaded not guilty because I am not guilty,” she said after leaving the courtroom, accompanied by her lawyers. “We will fight this.”
The judge set the trial date for Nov. 10.
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