Federal Grand Jury Indicts Democratic Congresswoman

Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver of New Jersey has been indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of “forcibly impeding and interfering” with federal law enforcement officers over a confrontation outside an immigration detention center. The incident unfolded at Delaney Hall, a privately run United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark during a congressional delegation visit that included McIver, fellow Democratic lawmakers Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Knewz.com has learned that the group’s arrival coincided with a protest against the Donald Trump administration’s immigration crackdown that was taking place outside the facility.

Democratic Congresswoman Faces Charges

According to an indictment, tensions escalated after a Department of Homeland Security special agent informed Mayor Baraka that he was not authorized to enter a secured area and attempted to arrest him for trespassing. Prosecutors allege that McIver intervened to prevent the arrest, first shouting “Hell no!” and then physically obstructing the officer. She is accused of using her forearm to strike one officer and attempting to restrain him during a second arrest attempt. She also allegedly pushed past an ICE deportation officer, striking him with her forearms. A press release from the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged, “During her continued attempts to thwart the arrest, McIver slammed her forearm into the body of one law enforcement officer and also reached out and tried to restrain that officer by forcibly grabbing him. McIver also used each of her forearms to forcibly strike a second officer.”

Rep. McIver Faces Up to 17 Years in Prison

The Congresswoman was initially charged in a criminal complaint in June, but the new three-count indictment replaces those charges. The indictment carries a potential prison sentence of up to 17 years if convicted. New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said of the charges, “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. … 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.” Baraka, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, was initially charged with trespassing, but the charge was later dropped, according to reports. However, it has been pointed out that federal law prohibits immigration officials from blocking access to detention facilities for members of Congress seeking to conduct oversight.

‘A Brazen Attempt at Political Intimidation’

Rep. McIver has vowed that she will fight the charges and plans to plead not guilty. She wrote in a statement on X, “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. … 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. But it won’t work — I will not be intimidated.”

House Democrats Release Statement

According to reports, top House Democrats released a joint statement defending McIver, vowing to “vigorously” respond to what they say is an illegitimate abuse of power. “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,” the statement said. McIver’s counsel Paul J. Fishman also released a statement that said, “We are eager to challenge these allegations head-on in court and fully expect the Congresswoman’s exoneration.”

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