Fact Check: Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged in a criminal complaint with two assault charges stemming from a May 9 visit to the center.

Published June 14, 2025

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FactChecker 1.1

VERDICT

Partially True

# Fact Check: "Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged in a criminal complaint with two assault charges stemming from a May 9 visit to the ce...

Fact Check: "Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged in a criminal complaint with two assault charges stemming from a May 9 visit to the center."

What We Know

On May 9, 2025, Democratic U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver visited the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, alongside other lawmakers and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. During this visit, a confrontation occurred between the lawmakers, protesters, and federal law enforcement officers, resulting in Baraka's arrest for misdemeanor trespassing. Subsequently, McIver was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of assaulting federal officers, as announced by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba (NPR, CBS News).

The indictment alleges that McIver "forcibly impeded and interfered" with federal officers during the arrest of Mayor Baraka, which included specific actions such as "slamming her forearm" into a Homeland Security Investigations agent and pushing past an ICE officer (ABC News, WAVY). Initially, there were two counts mentioned in the criminal complaint, but the grand jury later expanded this to three counts in the indictment (Politico, MSNBC).

Analysis

The claim that Rep. McIver was charged with two assault charges is partially true. While the initial criminal complaint referenced two counts, the subsequent indictment increased this number to three. This discrepancy is crucial for understanding the legal context of the situation. The charges stem from a chaotic scene where McIver and others attempted to intervene during Baraka's arrest, which has led to debates about the appropriateness of the federal response and the nature of the charges against her (NPR, CBS News).

The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident varies. NPR and CBS News are established news organizations with a reputation for factual reporting, while other sources like Politico and MSNBC also provide detailed accounts but may carry a more opinionated tone regarding the political implications of the case (Politico, MSNBC). The involvement of Alina Habba, a known ally of former President Trump, has raised concerns about potential political motivations behind the charges, which McIver and her attorney have publicly claimed (NPR, ABC News).

The context surrounding the detention center's opening and the subsequent protests adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The facility's opening faced criticism and legal challenges from local officials, which may influence public perception of the incident and the charges against McIver (NPR, WAVY).

Conclusion

The claim that Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged with two assault charges is partially true. While the initial complaint indicated two charges, the grand jury later indicted her on three counts. This nuance is significant in understanding the legal proceedings against her. The case raises questions about the intersection of law enforcement and political actions, particularly in the context of immigration enforcement.

Sources

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