Staff Reports
In yet another example of the left’s disregard for law and order, Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey is now facing federal charges for assaulting federal law enforcement officers during a chaotic protest outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark. The incident, which unfolded on May 9, saw McIver and other Democratic lawmakers attempting to interfere with the lawful arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was himself charged with trespassing before prosecutors dropped the charge. According to affidavits, McIver pushed, grabbed, and even used her forearms to strike Homeland Security agents in a brazen attempt to block the mayor’s arrest.
While McIver and her allies claim they were simply conducting congressional oversight, the facts tell a different story. Video footage and eyewitness accounts show a disorderly scene, with lawmakers and protesters forming a human shield, shouting, and physically confronting officers tasked with maintaining order and enforcing the law. The Department of Homeland Security and acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a former Trump attorney, made it clear: no one is above the law, not even elected officials. Habba emphasized that her office attempted to resolve the matter without criminal charges, but McIver refused to cooperate, leaving prosecutors no choice but to act.
Predictably, Democratic leaders have rushed to McIver’s defense, denouncing the charges as “extreme” and “morally bankrupt,” and accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing the justice system. This is a tired refrain from a party that routinely undermines law enforcement while demanding special treatment for its members. Instead of holding their own accountable, Democrats are doubling down, portraying McIver as a victim and turning a clear case of lawbreaking into a political sideshow.
This episode underscores a troubling trend: Democratic officials, emboldened by their party’s anti-enforcement rhetoric, increasingly feel entitled to flout the law in the name of “resistance.” Their actions at Delaney Hall were not about oversight—they were about grandstanding and obstructing officers doing their jobs. It’s no wonder that public trust in our institutions continues to erode when lawmakers themselves refuse to respect the rule of law.
As the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight prepares to examine the fallout from this incident, Americans should demand accountability. Lawmakers are not above the law, and those who assault law enforcement officers must be held to the same standard as any other citizen. The real scandal here is not the prosecution of Rep. McIver, but the left’s ongoing effort to excuse and enable lawlessness under the guise of political activism.
