Authorities indicted Democratic New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver on federal charges Tuesday, accusing her of assaulting and obstructing immigration officers during a confrontation outside a New Jersey detention center.
Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba announced a three-count indictment against McIver, accusing her of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers during a May 9 skirmish outside Delaney Hall in Newark. McIver allegedly attempted to disrupt operations at the detention center under the guise of a congressional oversight visit.
“As I have stated in the past, it is my Constitutional obligation as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for New Jersey to ensure that our federal partners are protected when executing their duties,” Habba wrote. “While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve.”
The indictment includes serious charges, carrying a maximum penalty of eight years in prison for Count One, an additional eight years for Count Two, and up to one year for Count Three. In response to the charges, McIver issued a statement denouncing the indictment. (RELATED: Democrat Congresswoman Charged With Assaulting Law Enforcement In Stunt At ICE Center)
“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,” she said in a statement, as reported by NBC News. “This indictment is no more justified than the original charges and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do.”
Habba announced the charges against McIver in May, along with the dismissal of a separate misdemeanor trespassing charge against Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who had also protested at the facility. Habba said that Baraka would be invited to tour Delaney Hall under her supervision.
Authorities arrested Baraka after attempting to join Democratic New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and McIver for a scheduled tour of the Delaney Hall immigrant detention facility. ICE officers blocked Baraka’s entry, leading to a heated exchange before they took him into custody, according to eyewitnesses and video footage.
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