A federal grand jury has indicted New Jersey Representative LaMonica McIver on charges related to the alleged assault of law enforcement officers at an immigration detention facility in Newark last month.
The indictment, announced by New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, includes three counts of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers executing their duties.
Habba emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of federal law enforcement personnel, stating, “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.”
This indictment follows a criminal complaint filed against McIver last month.
McIver, a Democrat, has publicly declared her intention to contest the charges, asserting her innocence and planning to plead not guilty. In a statement, she claimed, “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 further accused the actions against her of being politically motivated, asserting that they aim to distract from the accountability issues surrounding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The incident in question took place on May 9, when McIver and several congressional colleagues were visiting the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility to conduct oversight.
Prosecutors allege that tensions heightened when federal officers ordered Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to leave a secured portion of the facility under threat of arrest. It was during this escalation that McIver allegedly became physically involved, reportedly striking and attempting to restrain officers.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, McIver “slammed her forearm into the body of one law enforcement officer” and “forcibly grabbed” another officer while also using her forearms to strike a second law enforcement officer.
Following the initial complaint, McIver claimed the charges are intended to criminalize legislative oversight, asserting that her actions were mischaracterized.
In response to the charges, numerous top House Democrats publicly defended McIver, stating that they would respond vigorously to what they describe as an illegitimate use of power.
Their joint statement emphasized solidarity among Democrats: “An attack on one of us is an attack on the American people. House Democrats will respond vigorously in the days to come at a time, place, and manner of our choosing.”
If McIver is convicted, she faces a maximum sentence ranging from one to eight years, according to U.S. Attorney Habba.
In a separate incident during the same visit, Newark Mayor Baraka was arrested and initially charged with trespassing, but those charges were later dropped by Habba.
As legal proceedings move forward, the implications of the indictment may fuel further political discussions surrounding governmental oversight and law enforcement interactions.
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