Attempt To 'Censure' NJ Congresswoman Fails After Controversial Clash Outside ICE Prison

A Republican-led attempt to censure U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey in connection with a controversial scuffle outside of an ICE prison was derailed in the House on Wednesday.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 215-207 to table a resolution that would have censured McIver, a Democrat from the 10th district. The state’s three Republican House members each voted against dismissing the motion.

When a congress member is censured, they must face a public rebuke from the Speaker of the House. It does not expel them from office, and does not come with any legal consequences.

“The censure attempt against me has failed,” McIver said after the vote took place, calling the move a “baseless, partisan effort to shut me up.”

“I was not elected to play political games – I was elected to serve,” McIver added, sharing a video clip of her colleagues cheering in the wake of Wednesday’s vote. “I won’t back down. Not now. Not ever.”

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McIver currently faces the possibility of 17 years in prison if she is convicted on assault charges that were filed in the wake of an incident that took place outside Delaney Hall in Newark on May 9.

Delaney Hall is the first federal immigration detention center to open under President Donald Trump’s second term. The controversial facility is run by the GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the world.

Three months ago, a trio of Congress members – McIver, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. – visited Delaney Hall, demanding entry to carry out their “oversight authority” and inspect the prison firsthand. Congress members are legally authorized to enter federal immigration facilities, even without advance notice.

Their visit coincided with a pro-immigration protest – and the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

Homeland Security officials have accused the lawmakers of “storming the gate” at the prison, alleging that McIver slammed her forearm into the body of a law enforcement officer during the chaos and used her forearms to “forcibly strike” a second officer.

McIver has strongly denied the allegations against her, alleging that federal agents needlessly ramped up the confrontation and created chaos. She is also accusing Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Alina Habba of being motivated politically to pursue the assault charges that could result in up to 17 years in prison if she’s convicted.

Federal authorities previously shared video footage from the scene and encouraged viewers to “check the tape.”

“Yes, check the tape,” insisted Baraka, sharing footage of the incident (see video below, McIver is wearing a red jacket).

“The aggression was from the people in masks, hiding their identity,” he said. “And the whole world has seen it.”

Charges against Baraka were eventually dropped. No charges have been filed against Watson Coleman and Menendez.

McIver’s legal team is claiming that the charges are “unconstitutionally selective” and examples of “vindictive prosecution,” with the Trump administration dropping cases against the Jan. 6 rioters and pursuing a case against her – even though no federal agent was injured during the scuffle.

“This case charges [Rep. McIver] – a sitting Democratic member of Congress – with violating the same federal assault statute,” her legal team recently argued.

“But the similarity ends there,” they added.

• See Related: NJ Congresswoman Wants Assault Charges Dropped, Points To Pardons For Jan. 6 Rioters

McIver represents the state's 10th congressional district, which includes the following municipalities: Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Newark (part), Orange, Verona, West Orange in Essex County; Jersey City (part) in Hudson County; Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park, Union Township in Union County.

A trial date is scheduled for Nov. 10.

• See Related: Accused Congresswoman Enters Plea After Clash Outside ICE Prison
• See Related: NJ Congresswoman Explains Controversial Comment On Trump, Musk
• Read More: NJ Mayor: Videos Show We Didn’t ‘Storm’ ICE Detention Center (WATCH)

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