Politics
Far-Left Democrat Congresswoman Facing Potential Assault Charges
A Democratic congresswoman is now at the center of a growing firestorm after a confrontation with federal immigration authorities in Newark turned physical—and may lead to criminal charges.
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), a progressive freshman lawmaker backed by the left wing of her party, is facing potential assault charges following a chaotic scene on Friday at the Delaney Hall Detention Center. According to the Department of Homeland Security, McIver forcefully pushed past Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an attempted facility inspection and allegedly made physical contact with an officer.
Body camera footage released by DHS shows McIver, dressed in a bright red blazer, aggressively bypassing a security checkpoint. One ICE official was reportedly injured, with claims circulating that the congresswoman “body-slammed” the agent during the scuffle.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Communications Tricia McLaughlin responded forcefully, saying on X, “We will not tolerate assault against our ICE law enforcement agents. By members of Congress or anyone else.”
WATCH:
McIver was accompanied at the time by fellow New Jersey Democrats Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robert Menendez Jr., as well as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The group attempted what they claimed was a routine oversight inspection of the privately operated detention facility.
Mayor Baraka, who is not a member of Congress, was denied entry and later arrested for trespassing after joining protesters outside the facility. If charged, McIver could face serious consequences, including censure or expulsion from Congress depending on the severity of the findings.
“I think that we should let viewers know there will likely be more coming,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN on Saturday morning. According to McLaughlin, officials have obtained footage from the incident that could result in further fallout.
“We actually have body camera footage of some of these members of Congress assaulting our ICE enforcement officers, including body-slamming a female ICE officer,” she said. When asked if a member of Congress could face arrest over the incident at an ICE facility on Friday, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin didn’t rule it out.
“This is an ongoing investigation, and that is definitely on the table,” McLaughlin told CNN’. She added that ICE has video evidence in its possession capturing the confrontation. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka pushed back on the claims during a CNN appearance shortly after McLaughlin, dismissing her accusations outright.
“Ridiculous,” Baraka said of the assault. “I’m waiting for them to show a video,” he added.
Footage shows McIver repeatedly shoving and elbowing a federal agent while yelling “I touch whoever I want mother***er!” The Democrat lawmaker also threatened to ruin the careers of all ICE agents who refused to allow the violent group to “inspect” the facility.
McLaughlin noted Saturday that an everyday U.S. citizen would be facing serious criminal charges if they engaged in the conduct McIver did. “If it was a typical U.S. citizen, and they tried to storm into a detention facility that’s housing dangerous criminals or any person at all, they would be arrested,” McLaughlin told Fox News.
