DOJ says it has charged N.J. congresswoman with assaulting law enforcement at ICE facility
NBCJUN 2
DOJ Charges Rep. McIver Over Confrontation With ICE Agents at Detention Center
Above: U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), left, on Capitol Hill on May 8, 2025. Image copyright: Brian Stukes/Stringer/Getty Images for MomsRising.org
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This prosecution is purely political and aims to deter legislative oversight. The Trump administration has been following a pattern, first with the arrests of a sitting judge and a sitting mayor, and now with charges brought against a sitting congresswoman. This smells of authoritarianism, and it's important for Democrats and those who believe in American democracy to stand up to it.
Republican narrative
No one, regardless of position or status, has the right to assault federal agents or impede law enforcement operations. Democrats were warned not to cross the line between protesting and impeding law enforcement from doing its job. Now McIver must face the consequences of her actions, especially since she declined Habba's offers to settle the matter without pursuing a criminal case.