FILE – Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., speaks throughout a information convention with the Congressional Progressive Caucus within the Capitol Customer Heart to oppose Elon Musk getting access to the Treasury Division’s federal fee system, on Thursday, Feb. 6,
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted Tuesday on federal expenses alleging she assaulted and interfered with immigration officers outdoors a New Jersey detention middle whereas Newark’s mayor was being arrested after he tried to affix a congressional oversight go to on the facility.
Appearing U.S. Lawyer for New Jersey Alina Habba introduced the grand jury indictment in a publish on X.
“Whereas individuals are free to specific their views for or towards explicit insurance policies, they need to not achieve this in a fashion that endangers legislation enforcement and the communities these officers serve,” Habba mentioned.
McIver indicted
McIver was charged in a criticism by Habba final month with two assault expenses stemming from the Might 9 go to to Newark’s Delaney Corridor — a 1,000-bed, privately owned facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement makes use of as a detention middle.
The indictment contains three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officers. Habba mentioned two of the counts carry a most sentence of as much as eight years in jail. A 3rd has a most sentence of 1 yr.
What they’re saying:
In an announcement, McIver mentioned the fees amounted to the Trump administration attempting to scare her.
“The details 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.
McIver’s lawyer, former U.S. Lawyer for New Jersey Paul Fishman, mentioned in an announcement that they might problem the allegations “head-on” in court docket.
What occurred?
Rep. McIver charged with assault
Protestors are outdoors Delaney Corridor to reveal towards Consultant LaMonica McIver being charged with assault. FOX 5 NY’s Antwan Lewis is on the scene.
The backstory:
An almost two-minute clip launched by the Homeland Safety Division reveals McIver on the power facet of a chain-link fence simply earlier than the arrest of the mayor on the road facet of the fence, the place different folks had been protesting.
She and uniformed officers undergo the gate, and he or she joins others shouting that they need to circle the mayor. The video reveals McIver in a tightly packed group of individuals and officers.
At one level, her left elbow after which her proper elbow push into an officer carrying a darkish face protecting and an olive inexperienced uniform emblazoned with the phrase “Police” on it.
It isn’t clear from police bodycam video whether or not that contact was intentional, incidental or a results of jostling within the chaotic scene.
The criticism says she “slammed” her forearm into an agent then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him.
Native perspective:
McIver, 38, is a Newark native who joined Congress after successful a particular election in September 2024 to fill the seat of the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. She was elected to a full time period in November 2024.
Earlier than coming to Washington, McIver served as president of the Newark Metropolis Council and beforehand labored in Newark’s public college system. She has deep native ties and is considered as a rising determine within the metropolis’s political panorama.
The Supply: Info for this text was taken from earlier reporting by FOX 5 New York and a tweet from Rep. LaMonica McIver and New Jersey U.S. Lawyer Alina Habba. The Related Press additionally contributed.
