By Lauren Burke
At a large press conference on the House side of the U.S. Capitol, members of Congress rallied around Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ). The members represented the diverse “tri-caucus” made up of many of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Women’s Caucus. The three groups represent over half of the Democratic Caucus in the U.S. House. Though McIver was not present at the press event, she was on Capitol Hill attending meetings and House votes. She is also expected to be on national television on the evening of May 20. Yesterday, the New Jersey Congresswoman was charged with “impeding” and “assaulting” law enforcement outside of Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 9. The confrontation occurred after the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka but last night the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba announced that the charges against Mayor Baraka were dropped. Rep. McIver was charged on the same day that the Trump Administration, through the Department of Justice, announced an agreement to pay the family of Ashley Babbitt $5 million. Babbitt was shot dead by a member of the U.S. Capitol Police as she attempted to enter the floor of the U.S. House during the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The charges against Rep. McIver also fell on the same day as what would have been the 100th birthday of Malcolm X.
After three months of witnessing the Trump Administration arrest and deport individuals to a prison in El Salvador with no hearing beforehand and pressure law firms to complete work pro bono, members of Congress at the event in support of Rep. McIver appeared to have recent history front of mind. “We know exactly why we’re here today. That’s because the President of the United States has weaponized his Department of Justice in an attempt to make a young congresswoman from New Jersey the focal point of his efforts to intimidate Congress into submission,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus during the crowded press event near the steps of the U.S. Capitol. “Let me be overwhelmingly clear. Congresswoman McIver has the full and unwavering support of the Congressional Black Caucus. Period,” Clarke added. Rep. McIver, 38, entered Congress in September 2024 after winning a special election after the death of Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. “I’m standing here at a time that should make all of us as Americans truly afraid,” said New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker.
Senator Booker shook hands and greeted New Jersey colleagues U.S. Representatives Robert Menendez, Jr. (D-NJ) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) who were also a part of the May 9 visit to Delaney Hall Immigration detention center that became a confrontation after ICE officials got into a dispute with the federal officials. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. When they come after judges we should be afraid. When they come after people who use their First Amendment rights we should be afraid. When they come after law firms to represent clients of their choice we should be afraid. When they attack universities and the vital role they play in a free society we should be afraid,” Senator Booker told the large crowd of members of Congress, reporters, and others. “This entire situation happened because of the unjust arrest of Mayor Baraka,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) said during her opening remarks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing called by the Republicans on the issue of the fracas on May 9. “Members of Congress have the right to conduct oversight, full stop — whether that’s holding Cabinet officials accountable or visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Representative McIver was performing her proper oversight role, a role she was elected by the American people to do — and even participated in a one-hour tour after the incident occurred,” wrote Rep. Jamie Raskin who is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. Members expressed concern about what happens next and are monitoring the situation around McIver closely.
