Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury and plans to plead not guilty, according to statements from both her office and the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced that McIver is facing a three-count indictment related to allegedly obstructing and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. If convicted, she could face up to 17 years in prison. In response, McIver released a statement strongly denying the charges, asserting that the facts will prove she was simply fulfilling her responsibilities as an elected official. She characterized the prosecution as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate her and confirmed her intention to enter a not guilty plea.
The charges stem from an incident last month outside the Delany Hall detention center in Newark, where McIver, along with fellow Democratic Representatives Rob Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman, were involved in a confrontation with law enforcement officers. The situation unfolded as ICE agents attempted to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Body camera footage reportedly shows McIver elbowing an officer during the encounter, though McIver claims she was the one assaulted.
Habba addressed the situation in a post on X, saying it is her constitutional responsibility to protect federal officers carrying out their duties. She emphasized that while people have the right to express disagreement with government policies, they must not do so in a way that threatens law enforcement or public safety.