Congresswoman McIver Charged for Alleged Assault on ICE Officers

(MENAFN) U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver has been formally charged by a federal grand jury in New Jersey, following accusations that she assaulted law enforcement officers during a protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility last month.

"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," stated U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in a statement released on X.

The indictment outlines three separate counts, and if McIver is found guilty on all charges, she could be sentenced to as many as 17 years in prison.

"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," Habba wrote.

The confrontation occurred on May 9 during a demonstration led by McIver and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The pair were protesting immigrant detentions when the situation intensified, culminating in physical altercations, according to prosecutors.

The criminal complaint alleges that during Baraka’s arrest, McIver physically engaged with officers. She reportedly struck a Homeland Security Investigations agent with her forearm and then used both forearms to hit an ICE officer.

Federal prosecutors cited body camera stills as evidence, stating they captured McIver’s "multiple attempts to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate and interfere with the agents attempting to take the Mayor into custody."

McIver has denounced the charges, framing them as an attack on her political role.

"The charges against me are purely political -- they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight," McIver said following her arrest.
While the charges against Mayor Baraka were later dismissed, McIver continues to face legal proceedings.

"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," Habba stated.

She added, "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."

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