Back in mid-May, the Department of Justice filed charges against Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for her alleged involvement in an incident at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark. US Attorney Alina Habba stated, “My office has charged Congresswoman McIver with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement officers.”

Footage appeared to show McIver engaging physically with ICE officials during a chaotic scene on May 9th. She, alongside two other Democratic members of Congress from New Jersey and Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka, attempted to forcibly enter the facility under the guise of “oversight” activities. Tensions escalated when Baraka attempted to access the center through a side entrance, leading to the confrontation.

McIver responded to Habba’s announcement by accusing the DOJ of filing “purely political” charges, claiming they were intended to “criminalize and deter legislative oversight.” However, this defense did not prevent her from being indicted by a federal grand jury on June 10th.