A New Jersey congresswoman indicted Tuesday on charges related to a confrontation at an immigrant detention center in Newark last month is scheduled to be arraigned next week, according to court documents.
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, June 16, at 11 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Newark, the documents state.
McIver was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting impeding and interfering with a federal officer, for her actions during what federal prosecutors have described as an unauthorized protest at the facility.
McIver, however, has maintained that she and fellow Democratic Reps. Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman were conducting an oversight visit when tensions escalated.
The indictment, which includes three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials, carries a maximum total of 17 years in prison, according to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who was appointed to the role by President Donald Trump earlier this year to fill a vacancy.
McIver said in a statement Tuesday night that she was “simply doing (her) job,” and that the “facts of the case” will prove that.
“This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do,” McIver said. “The facts are on our side, I will be entering a plea of not guilty, I’m grateful for the support of my community, and I look forward to my day in court.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McIver entered a restricted area and attempted to intervene as officers arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who prosecutors allege was on the premises without authorization.
Baraka was taken into custody outside Delaney Hall, a privately operated detention facility under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a division of the Department of Homeland Security.
A trespassing charge filed against him was later dismissed at the request of prosecutors.
Prosecutors claim McIver and other members of Congress formed a human shield around the mayor during the incident. McIver is accused of striking one officer with her forearm and pushing another.
Stories by Chris Sheldon
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.