Democrats gathered behind New Jersey Rep. Ramonica McQuiver, who said the Justice Department had assaulted an official at an immigration center. She challenges it.
Rep. Lamonica Mciver was charged following an ice facility visit
Rep. Lamonica Mciver was charged after a confused confrontation with law enforcement outside the ice facility.
WASHINGTON – Democrats met outside the U.S. Capitol on May 20, when New Jersey Rep. Ramonica McQuiver assisted a colleague charged by the Department of Justice for assaulting a law enforcement officer during a recent encounter outside the Immigration Center.
“If they come to Lamonica today, they’ll come for us tomorrow,” said Rep. Yvette Clark, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
On May 19, the Justice Department released a charge against McQuiver for assaulting, obstructing and obstructing law enforcement agencies related to an argument at a Newark immigration facility.
On Capitol Hill Tuesday, Trump told reporters he didn’t know McQuiver.. ”
“Did you see her? She couldn’t control her. The days of awakening were over. The woman, she couldn’t control her. She was pushing in federal agents,” he said.
McQuiver, along with two New Jersey Democrats, along with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, faced off against a Department of Homeland Security security guard outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center shortly after officers arrested Newark Mayor Russ Barraka on May 9.
Two other members of Congress have not been charged. Misdemeanor trespassing charges against Baraka were removed Monday.
Members of the Congress are permitted to visit unpublished immigration detention facilities.
McQuiber called the charges against her “purely political.”
“They are intended to mischaracterize and distort my actions and criminalize and block legislative oversight,” she said in a statement.
Alina Haba, an interim US lawyer who previously was President Donald Trump’s lawyer, said in a statement he attempted another result.
“I have made efforts to address these issues without criminal charges and have given Representative McQuiver the opportunity to come to the resolution at any time, but she unfortunately declined,” she said.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly said that his political opponents should be imprisoned, but such decisions will be left to the Justice Department..
New Jersey Rep. Frank Palone said surveillance by his colleagues was not a crime. He said if the Justice Department commits a crime because it did the job of “no member safe from political retaliation.”
Texas MP Greg Casar, chairman of The Progressive Caucus, said Caucus members will make more surveillance visits at the ICE facility.
“The Justice Department of Donald Trump’s Department should file unfounded accusations against members of Congress simply for doing her job. It should make the spine of all Americans cold,” he said.
