A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver for allegedly assaulting legislation enforcement officers outdoors of an immigration detention facility final month, officers introduced Tuesday.
The three-count indictment fees the Democratic congresswoman with “forcibly impeding and interfering with federal legislation enforcement officers” on the facility, New Jersey U.S. Lawyer Alina Habba mentioned in a put up on X.
“As I’ve acknowledged up to now, it’s my Constitutional obligation because the Chief Federal Legislation Enforcement Officer for New Jersey to make sure that our federal companions are protected when executing their duties,” Habba mentioned. “Whereas persons are free to specific their views for or towards explicit insurance policies, they need to not accomplish that in a way that endangers legislation enforcement and the communities these officers serve.”
The indictment is a typical procedural step after Habba’s workplace charged McIver through a felony criticism final month.
McIver has vowed she’s going to battle the fees and plans to plead not responsible.
“The info 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 in a press release on X. “This indictment isn’t any extra justified than the unique fees, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE induced and scare me out of doing the work I used to be elected to do. Nevertheless it will not work — I cannot be intimidated.”
Police physique cam picture of New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver outdoors of an ICE detention facility, in Newark, N.J., Could 9, 2025.
United States District Courtroom/District of New Jersey
On Could 9, McIver and some different members of Congress had been at Delaney Corridor, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, to conduct oversight.
Tensions escalated when a federal officer ordered Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to go away a secured space of the power or face arrest, and pushing and shoving allegedly occurred, based on prosecutors.
“Throughout her continued makes an attempt to thwart the arrest, McIver slammed her forearm into the physique of 1 legislation enforcement officer and in addition reached out and tried to restrain that officer by forcibly grabbing him,” the Division of Justice mentioned in a press launch on Tuesday. “McIver additionally used every of her forearms to forcibly strike a second officer.”
Following the fees through felony criticism, McIver alleged in a press release that the choice was politically motivated.
“The costs towards me are purely political — they mischaracterize and warp my actions, and are supposed to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” McIver mentioned.
Prime Home Democrats additionally launched a joint assertion final month defending McIver, vowing to “vigorously” reply to what they are saying is an illegitimate abuse of energy.
“An assault on one in every of us is an assault on the American folks. Home Democrats will reply vigorously within the days to return at a time, place and method of our selecting,” the leaders mentioned.
If convicted, the utmost penalty for the fees within the indictment ranges from one to eight years, Habba mentioned.
Baraka was arrested on the facility and charged with trespassing, although Habba later dropped the cost.
