The walls are closing in for Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), after a federal judge denied her motion to dismiss assault charges for allegedly impeding federal agents during a May 2025 visit to a Newark ICE facility, along with Mayor Ras Baraka.
Supporting this decision, Judge Semper ruled her physical opposition to Baraka’s arrest served no legislative purpose. In response, McIver, pleading not guilty, called the case “intimidation” to block oversight, vowing to continue fighting for her community, and her attorney accused the Trump administration of selective prosecution.
In any case, U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper ruled, “Defendant has not met her burden of establishing that her predominant purpose in physically opposing the Mayor’s arrest was to conduct oversight or gather information for a legislative purpose. No genuine legislative purpose was advanced by Defendant’s alleged conduct.”
Reacting bitterly, LaMonica McIver whined, “From the beginning, this case has been about trying to intimidate me, stop me from doing oversight and keep me from doing my job. It will not work. I will keep standing up to protect people, and the court’s denial of my motions does not change that fact.”
Building on her previous claim, she alleged, “I am not in this fight only for myself, and I am concerned that this decision will simply embolden the administration. This case is not over. I am committed to protecting my community, our people and our country.”
Likewise, Paul Fishman, McIver’s attorney, blamed Trump for the charges. “It is clear this administration is treating Congresswoman McIver’s actions differently than the actions of those who are on their side.”
Speaking at the time of the destructive riot, McIver alleged, “With this indictment, it’s clear that the Trump administration is continuing to target lawmakers across New Jersey and the country for refusing to be complicit in its ongoing assault on immigrant communities and the fundamental rights at the core of our democracy.”
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Doubling down on her supposed innocence, she claimed, “The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation.”
Unsurprisingly, many woke activists sought to play the race card. Diane Tyree-Anglin, the Montclair NAACP Branch President, claimed, “It was outrageous. The escalation of it was inappropriate and I stand firmly on the fact that this does seem politically driven. The treatment of those Black women that day is very disturbing. LaMonica McIver, from day one of taking office, has been a voice for the voiceless.”
When news of the ruling broke on social media, conservatives rallied behind the judge. “US District Judge Jamel Semper has made a statement of his own. The charges aren’t being dismissed. She was hoping they would be. She believes as an elected official she is immune to prosecution. WRONG! Ms McIver will stand trial… I fervently hope she is convicted and does time inside a different detention center… NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,” a viral post read.