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CBS News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
N.J. Rep. LaMonica McIver pleads not guilty to federal assault charges
New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver pleaded not guilty Wednesday on charges of assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement related to a clash at the ICE detention facility at Delaney Hall in Newark. McIver's supporters, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and immigrants rights groups, rallied outside of federal court in Newark to call for the charges to be dropped. They cheered when she walked out after pleading not guilty. If convicted, she faces eight years in prison. "They will not intimidate. They will not stop me from doing my job. I will continue to do what the people on the 10th Congressional District elected me to do," McIver said. "Congresswoman McIver pleaded not guilty because she is not guilty. On May 9, she was at Delaney Hall to carry out her responsibilities as Member of Congress. She was there to inspect an ICE detention facility and to see for herself whether the Trump administration is obeying the laws and Constitution of the United States. ICE responded by creating a risky and dangerous situation, and now the Justice Department is doubling down by trying to punish the Congresswoman for doing her job," McIver's attorney Paul Fishman said. "We are eager to challenge this case on multiple grounds and we are confident that the legal process will ultimately vindicate the Congresswoman." "We did not go there to protest. We did not go there for any of that. We went there to make sure this facility was up to par, and that detainees there were given due process," McIver said. McIver is facing charges for the same May incident which resulted in Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest, although trespassing charges against Baraka have since been dropped. Interim New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba has nonetheless moved forward with the charges against McIver. "I'm not going to let these thieves, these thieves steal her dream from her," Baraka said. CBS News New York reached out to the office of the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey comment on Wednesday's proceedings, and so far have not heard back. What happened at Delaney Hall Back in May, McIver was with Baraka and two other members of Congress to conduct federal oversight of Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility that ICE is using as a detention center. The facility has been the site of numerous protests over conditions there, and Baraka has challenged the federal government over it, saying the facility lacked the proper permits to reopen be put to use. The Department of Homeland Security initially claimed the group of lawmakers came "storming into [the] detention facility" as part of a "bizarre political stunt." A scuffle ensued, resulting in Baraka's arrest. McIver was charged after a DHS agent alleged in an affidavit she and others attempted to stop Baraka's arrest by forming a human shield around him, and that she "slammed her forearm into the body" of a uniformed agent and "reached out and tried to restrain" the agent from grabbing Baraka. In footage posted online by DHS, McIver, wearing a red jacket, can be seen along the Delaney Hall fence as Baraka is being arrested. As the group of protesters and law enforcement start to brush up against each other, McIver is spotted using her elbows to move herself past an officer. In the days since the incident, a group of detainees broke out of the facility through a hole in the wall. Almost all have been recaptured, though one remains at large. contributed to this report.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver pleads not guilty to assault charges stemming from immigration centre visit
NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges accusing her of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention centre during a congressional oversight visit at the facility. 'They will not intimidate me. They will not stop me from doing my job,' she said outside the courthouse in Newark after the brief hearing. McIver, a Democrat, was charged by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, following the May 9 visit to Newark's Delaney Hall. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses the privately owned, 1,000-bed facility as a detention centre. This month she was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Two of the counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third is a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. During Wednesday's hearing, McIver stood and told U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper: 'Your honor, I plead not guilty.' The judge set a Nov. 10 trial date. Outside the courthouse, McIver warned that anyone who pushes back against the Trump administration will find themselves in a similar position. McIver's lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman, said McIver pleaded not guilty because she is not guilty. He said federal agents created a risky situation at Delaney Hall. A message seeking comment Wednesday was left with Habba's office. Among those at McIver's side Wednesday were her family and elected officials, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was outside the detention centre with McIver and other legislators on May 9. Baraka was also arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped and is suing Habba over what he called a malicious prosecution. Baraka accused the Trump administration of using law enforcement as 'an appendage of their ideology to begin to hammer us.' The indictment of McIver is the latest development in a legal-political drama that has seen the Trump administration take Democratic officials from New Jersey's largest city to court amid the president's ongoing immigration crackdown and Democrats' efforts to respond. The prosecution is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption. A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. McIver and uniformed officials go through the gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word 'Police.' It is not clear from police bodycam video if the contact was intentional, incidental or the result of jostling in the chaotic scene. The complaint alleges that she 'slammed' her forearm into an agent and then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him. The indictment also says she placed her arms around the mayor to try to stop his arrest and says again that she slammed her forearm into and grabbed an agent. Democrats including New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, who were with McIver at the detention centre that day, have criticized the arrest and disputed the charges. Members of Congress are legally authorized to go into federal immigration facilities as part of their oversight powers, even without notice. Congress passed a 2019 appropriations bill spelling out that authority. McIver, 39, first came to Congress in September in a special election after the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. left a vacancy in the 10th District. She was then elected to a full term in November. A Newark native, she was president of the Newark City Council from 2022 to 2024 and worked in the city's public schools before that. Mike Catalini, The Associated Press
CNN
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
US Rep. LaMonica McIver pleads not guilty to assault charges stemming from immigration center visit
US Rep. LaMonica McIver pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges accusing her of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center during a congressional oversight visit at the facility. 'They will not intimidate me. They will not stop me from doing my job,' she said outside the courthouse in Newark after the brief hearing. McIver, a Democrat, was charged in a complaint by interim US Attorney Alina Habba, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, following the May 9 visit to Newark's Delaney Hall. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses the privately owned, 1,000-bed facility as a detention center. This month she was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Habba said two counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third has a maximum of one year. During Wednesday's hearing, McIver stood and told US District Judge Jamel Semper: 'Your honor, I plead not guilty.' The judge set a November 10 trial date. Outside the courthouse, McIver warned that anyone who pushes back against the Trump administration will find themselves in a similar position. McIver's lawyer, former US Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman, said McIver pleaded not guilty because she is not guilty. He said federal agents created a risky situation at Delaney Hall. The indictment is the latest development in a legal-political drama that has seen the Trump administration take Democratic officials from New Jersey's largest city to court amid the president's ongoing immigration crackdown and Democrats' efforts to respond. The prosecution is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption. During the same visit to the detention center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped. Baraka is suing Habba over what he called a malicious prosecution. A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. McIver and uniformed officials go through the gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word 'Police.' It is not clear from police bodycam video if the contact was intentional, incidental or the result of jostling in the chaotic scene. The complaint alleges that she 'slammed' her forearm into an agent and then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him. The indictment also says she placed her arms around the mayor to try to stop his arrest and says again that she slammed her forearm into and grabbed an agent. Democrats including New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, who were with McIver at the detention center that day, have criticized the arrest and disputed the charges. Members of Congress are legally authorized to go into federal immigration facilities as part of their oversight powers, even without notice. Congress passed a 2019 appropriations bill spelling out that authority. McIver, 39, first came to Congress in September in a special election after the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. left a vacancy in the 10th District. She was then elected to a full term in November. A Newark native, she was president of the Newark City Council from 2022 to 2024 and worked in the city's public schools before that.
CNN
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
US Rep. LaMonica McIver pleads not guilty to assault charges stemming from immigration center visit
US Rep. LaMonica McIver pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges accusing her of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center during a congressional oversight visit at the facility. 'They will not intimidate me. They will not stop me from doing my job,' she said outside the courthouse in Newark after the brief hearing. McIver, a Democrat, was charged in a complaint by interim US Attorney Alina Habba, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, following the May 9 visit to Newark's Delaney Hall. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses the privately owned, 1,000-bed facility as a detention center. This month she was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Habba said two counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third has a maximum of one year. During Wednesday's hearing, McIver stood and told US District Judge Jamel Semper: 'Your honor, I plead not guilty.' The judge set a November 10 trial date. Outside the courthouse, McIver warned that anyone who pushes back against the Trump administration will find themselves in a similar position. McIver's lawyer, former US Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman, said McIver pleaded not guilty because she is not guilty. He said federal agents created a risky situation at Delaney Hall. The indictment is the latest development in a legal-political drama that has seen the Trump administration take Democratic officials from New Jersey's largest city to court amid the president's ongoing immigration crackdown and Democrats' efforts to respond. The prosecution is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption. During the same visit to the detention center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped. Baraka is suing Habba over what he called a malicious prosecution. A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. McIver and uniformed officials go through the gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word 'Police.' It is not clear from police bodycam video if the contact was intentional, incidental or the result of jostling in the chaotic scene. The complaint alleges that she 'slammed' her forearm into an agent and then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him. The indictment also says she placed her arms around the mayor to try to stop his arrest and says again that she slammed her forearm into and grabbed an agent. Democrats including New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, who were with McIver at the detention center that day, have criticized the arrest and disputed the charges. Members of Congress are legally authorized to go into federal immigration facilities as part of their oversight powers, even without notice. Congress passed a 2019 appropriations bill spelling out that authority. McIver, 39, first came to Congress in September in a special election after the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. left a vacancy in the 10th District. She was then elected to a full term in November. A Newark native, she was president of the Newark City Council from 2022 to 2024 and worked in the city's public schools before that.
Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
US Rep. LaMonica McIver to be arraigned on assault charges stemming from immigration center visit
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver is set to be arraigned on federal charges Wednesday, accused of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center during a congressional oversight visit at the facility. She has said she plans to fight the charges. McIver, a Democrat, was charged in a complaint by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, following the May 9 visit to Newark's Delaney Hall, a privately owned, 1,000-bed facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses as a detention center. This month she was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Habba said two counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third has a maximum of one year. McIver's lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman, said in a statement that she would challenge the allegations 'head-on' in court. The indictment is the latest development in a legal-political drama that has seen the Trump administration take Democratic officials from New Jersey's largest city to court amid the president's ongoing immigration crackdown and Democrats' efforts to respond. The prosecution is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption. During the same visit to the detention center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped. Baraka is suing Habba over what he called a malicious prosecution. A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Homeland Security Department shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. McIver and uniformed officials go through the gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word 'Police.' It is not clear from police bodycam video if the contact was intentional, incidental or the result of jostling in the chaotic scene. The complaint alleges that she 'slammed' her forearm into an agent and then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him. The indictment also says she placed her arms around the mayor to try to stop his arrest and says again that she slammed her forearm into and grabbed an agent. Democrats including New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, who were with McIver at the detention center that day, have criticized the arrest and disputed the charges. Members of Congress are legally authorized to go into federal immigration facilities as part of their oversight powers, even without notice. Congress passed a 2019 appropriations bill spelling out that authority. McIver, 39, first came to Congress in September in a special election after the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. left a vacancy in the 10th District. She was then elected to a full term in November. A Newark native, she was president of the Newark City Council from 2022 to 2024 and worked in the city's public schools before that.
