Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver, who is facing assault charges after a scuffle with federal officers during the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, claims that the charges are merely a form of “political intimidation.” She expressed her readiness to defend herself in court during an interview with NBC News on Capitol Hill this Tuesday. The charges were brought by Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who alleges that McIver attacked officers outside an immigration detention center where Mayor Baraka was being detained. Habba supported her claims with body camera footage included in a recently released criminal complaint.
McIver revealed that she first learned about the charges through social media, after Habba posted them on X the previous night. In response to the accusations, McIver criticized ICE for instigating an “unnecessary and unsafe confrontation,” stating that she was simply carrying out her lawful oversight duties during a visit to Delaney Hall. The criminal complaint alleges that despite multiple warnings to leave the area and the imminent arrest of Mayor Baraka, McIver and others obstructed the officers from detaining him. She was accused of physically interfering with the arresting agents by encircling the Mayor, grabbing a Homeland Security Investigations officer, and striking officers with her forearms.
Additionally, the complaint asserts that McIver pushed an ICE agent in her attempt to prevent the mayor’s arrest. Prosecutors released several body camera images that they claim depict McIver’s aggressive behavior towards the officers. Habba announced the dismissal of a misdemeanor case against Mayor Baraka, who was taken into custody when he tried to join members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation during their inspection of the detention facility. In response to the dropped charges, Mayor Baraka expressed his gratitude and willingness to collaborate with Habba on common issues. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the humane treatment of detainees at Delaney Hall and expressed his unwavering support for McIver, whom he described as a longtime friend and ally.
Maybe it’s just me, but this whole situation seems like a classic case of he-said-she-said. McIver claims she was just doing her job, while Habba insists that she crossed the line by physically obstructing the officers. It’s unclear why exactly ICE decided to confront McIver and the mayor during their visit to the detention center, but one thing is for sure – tensions were running high. Despite the charges against her, McIver seems determined to fight back and prove her innocence in court. As for Mayor Baraka, he’s relieved that the charges against him have been dropped and is looking forward to moving past this incident. In the end, only time will tell how this legal battle will unfold, but one thing is certain – the drama is far from over.
