Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is expected to appear in court on Wednesday to face charges for allegedly obstructing and assaulting federal immigration officers outside a detention facility in Newark.

The New Jersey Democrat will plead not guilty at her arraignment.

McIver is charged in a three-count indictment of impeding federal officers during the attempted arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at the Delaney Hall immigration facility and using her forearms to strike an agent.

Democratic Rep McIver to appear in court on charges in Newark ICE facility incident https://t.co/oExERjax1z

— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) June 25, 2025

Fox News reports:

Baraka was one of several people to speak alongside supporters on Wednesday ahead of McIver’s court appearance, where he slammed the charges against her.

“Democracy is in danger as a whole,” Baraka said to the crowd, some of whom were holding signs reading, “Protect migrant rights and due process” and “We stand with Monica.”

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“This has nothing to do with the law, this has nothing to do with justice… this is sheer intimidation, sheer bullying, this is their opportunity to put their foot on our necks to let people know that they are in charge. It’s the same thing that they are doing here domestically that they are doing in Iran, right?”

The crowds were chanting “drop all the charges” and demanded

Baraka insisted that the federal authorities had no grounds to charge McIver. “If you look at the video, she will be vindicated,” he said.

McIver and two other members of Congress said they were conducting a congressional oversight visit that coincided with an immigration protest, when a clash ensued with federal agents.

“Today a federal grand jury seated in Newark, New Jersey returned a three-count indictment charging U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. This indictment has a maximum penalty of 8 years for Count One, an additional maximum penalty of 8 years for Count Two, and a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison for Count Three,” U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba previously announced.

“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,” she continued.

“Today’s decision by the grand jury is the next step in a process that my Office will pursue to a just end,” she added.

Today a federal grand jury seated in Newark, New Jersey returned a three-count indictment charging U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. This indictment has a maximum penalty of 8 years for Count One, an…

— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) June 10, 2025

From POLITICO:

Allegations of physical violence by a sitting member of Congress are rare, with a handful of incidents including the pre-Civil War caning of a senator by a member of the House.

McIver’s allies, including two other Democrats who were with her during the incident, have decried the charges as political and have said she was roughed up by federal agents. Her allies are also trying to turn the tables on the federal prosecutor bringing the case, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba.

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The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, filed a complaint this week against Habba with the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics.

The complaint alleges Habba has acted improperly since becoming a prosecutor and cites her actions in the McIver case, along with comments about turning “New Jersey red” and announcing investigations into its Democratic governor and attorney general over immigration.