Democrats Indignant Over ‘Outrageous’ DOJ Charges Targeting New Jersey Lawmaker

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats expressed strong opposition on Tuesday to the assault charges against New Jersey U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver. This follows an incident with law enforcement outside an immigration detention center in Newark earlier this month.

At a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol, leaders from the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Women’s Caucus, and Congressional Progressive Caucus rallied in McIver’s defense. They argued that the New Jersey lawmaker was fulfilling her oversight responsibilities regarding the facility.

McIver faces two counts of assaulting federal officers, including a Homeland Security Investigations special agent and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer. These charges relate to her visit to the detention center on May 9, accompanied by fellow New Jersey Representatives Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who aimed to conduct an inspection.

Federal authorities allege that McIver attempted to impede the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during that visit. In a related development, Alina Habba, acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced the dropping of a trespassing charge against Mayor Baraka linked to the same standoff.

Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, condemned the charges as a “reprehensible political stunt.” She emphasized the right and obligation of Congress members to oversee ICE facilities, especially in light of serious allegations of legal and human rights violations.

Sen. Cory Booker, also from New Jersey, supported McIver and her colleagues, stating they were acting in accordance with their constitutional duties. He criticized Republicans for failing to provide appropriate checks and balances on the administration.

Rep. Frank Pallone echoed these sentiments, labeling the Justice Department’s actions as “outrageous.” Ahead of a House Judiciary Committee hearing on “threats to ICE operations,” Pallone and other New Jersey Democrats expressed their support for McIver’s oversight visit in a letter to committee leaders.

The group denounced what they perceived as efforts by the Justice and Homeland Security Departments to intimidate Congress and suppress lawful oversight through legal threats.

Rep. Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, described the Justice Department’s charges as “baseless.” He highlighted the caucus’s commitment to increasing oversight visits to ICE facilities, asserting that the administration seeks to deter such actions.