Hakeem Jeffries claims DOJ charge against NJ Dem rep who stormed ICE facility is 'morally bankrupt'

In the wake of the Department of Justice filing charges against Rep LaMonica McIver for "assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement" during a May 9 incident at a New Jersey ICE detention center. House Democrat leadership has condemned the charges against McIver as "extreme, morally bankrupt," and lacking "any basis in law or fact."

"Members of Congress have a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight of the executive branch wherever and whenever it is needed. We are lawfully permitted to show up at any federal facility unannounced to conduct an inspection on behalf of the American people. By visiting the detention center in Newark, Rep. McIver and two other Members of Congress were upholding their oath of office. They didn’t assault anyone, but were themselves aggressively mistreated by illegally masked individuals," the joint statement from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Vice Chair Ted Lieu and Assistant Leader Joe Neguse said.

McIver was charged with violating Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 111(a)(1), which states that a person who "forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with" an officer can face fines and prison time. McIver was seen on body camera footage shoving security agents outside Newark, New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention center.

The statement continued, "Shortly after the alleged altercation took place, administration officials escorted Congressmembers LaMonica McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez on a tour of the detention center that lasted approximately an hour. There is no credible evidence that Rep. McIver engaged in any criminal activity, and she would not have been permitted to tour the facility had she done anything wrong."

"The proceeding initiated by the so-called U.S. Attorney in New Jersey is a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to intimidate Congress and interfere with our ability to serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch. House Democrats will not be intimidated by the Trump administration. Not today. Not ever. 

"Everyone responsible for this illegitimate abuse of power is going to be held accountable for their actions. An attack on one of us is an attack on the American people. House Democrats will respond vigorously in the days to come at a time, place and manner of our choosing."

Acting US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba wrote in a press release announcing the charge late Monday, "I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined. No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise. It is the job of this office to uphold justice impartially, regardless of who you are. Now we will let the justice system work."

McIver said in a statement responding to the charge that she and two other representatives, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, had been at the detention center to "inspect" the treatment of detainees and fulfill "our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short."

"Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka. The charges against me are purely political—they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight. This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court."