Rep. McIver Faces Charges for Alleged Assault on ICE Agents
Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat, appeared in court Wednesday after being charged with assaulting ICE agents at a Newark detention facility. She was ordered to surrender her firearms and restricted from traveling abroad unless for official duties. If convicted, she could face up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
McIver Denies Charges, Claims Political Motivation
McIver, 38, called the charges “absurd” and politically motivated, claiming she was doing her job. Video footage allegedly shows her shoving and grabbing a federal agent during an attempt to interfere with the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka, whose trespassing charge was later dropped.
Prosecutors Defend Case as Apolitical
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba defended the indictment, stating the case is about respect for federal agents, not politics. The DOJ relied on bodycam and aerial footage as key evidence. McIver has since begun fundraising to fight the charges, framing them as racially driven.
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Mayor’s Arrest
During a related hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa criticized the DOJ’s handling of Baraka’s arrest, calling it rushed and politically charged. The trespassing charge was dismissed with prejudice, preventing the DOJ from refiling it, and raising further scrutiny over the case’s origins.
