By Steve Neavling
Federal prosecutors charged U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey with assaulting law enforcement officers during a confrontation outside a Newark immigration detention center, while dropping a trespassing charge against the city’s mayor tied to the same incident.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charges Monday, saying McIver impeded and interfered with officers during a May 9 visit to Delaney Hall with two other Democratic lawmakers., The New York Times reports. Habba said she had tried to resolve the issue without charges but McIver declined.
“No one is above the law,” Habba said in a statement.
McIver called the charges political and accused ICE agents of provoking the confrontation.
“They mischaracterize and distort my actions,” she said, arguing the charges are meant to suppress legislative oversight.
Prosecutors also dropped a misdemeanor trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who had tried to join the lawmakers’ tour but was denied entry. Habba said she dismissed the charge “for the sake of moving forward.”
Video footage of the incident — cited by both sides — shows a chaotic scene as the lawmakers surrounded Baraka and moved toward the gate. McIver appears to make contact with a federal officer, though no injuries were reported.
The lawmakers deny storming the facility and say their visit was part of routine oversight amid growing local opposition to the new detention center.
