Former GOP Lawmakers Blast 'Outrageous' Prices In opposition to LaMonica McIver

[ad_1] A gaggle of former Republican members of Congress criticized the Trump administration for the "outrageous" prison costs towards a Democratic lawmaker accused of assaulting and impeding legislation enforcement at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in New Jersey.

Newsweek reached out to the White Home for remark by way of e-mail on Thursday.

Why It Issues New Jersey Consultant LaMonica McIver was charged in reference to a scuffle that broke out on the Delaney Corridor detention heart earlier this month, when McIver, two different Democratic lawmakers from New Jersey, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka visited the ability.

Tensions escalated on the Newark facility between ICE officers, protesters on the entrance and the 4 Democrats. McIver was later criminally charged and accused of attacking ICE brokers, an allegation she has vehemently denied.

McIver's prosecution follows final month's arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Courtroom Decide Hannah Dugan, who's accused of serving to a migrant evade arrest by ICE brokers.

Rep. LaMonica McIver speaks to the press after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested whereas protesting at Delancey Corridor ICE detention jail on Could 9, 2025. Rep. LaMonica McIver speaks to the press after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested whereas protesting at Delancey Corridor ICE detention jail on Could 9, 2025. AP Photograph/Angelina Katsanis What To Know On Thursday, a bunch of 10 former Republican lawmakers defended McIver and known as the costs towards her "outrageous."

"We unequivocally reject the costs towards Congresswoman McIver," they mentioned in a press release despatched to Newsweek.

"The constitutional duties of Members of Congress embody not solely passing laws but additionally oversight of government department implementation of these legal guidelines. That's a vital dimension of American checks and balances. Rep. Mclver was current on the ICE facility as a part of her official congressional duties. We consider this excessive response to the occasions of that day is unwarranted."

The next former lawmakers signed the assertion:

Former Consultant Claudine Schneider of Rhode IslandFormer Consultant Mickey Edwards of OklahomaFormer Senator Gordon Murphy of New HampshireFormer Consultant Barbara Comstock of VirginiaFormer Consultant David Emery of MaineFormer Consultant Wayne Gilchrest of MarylandFormer Consultant Christopher Shays of ConnecticutFormer Consultant Peter Smith of VermontFormer Consultant David Trott of MichiganFormer Consultant Joe Walsh of Illinois "This habits by the Trump administration is outrageous," Schneider mentioned. "Each member of Congress, each previous and current, must be talking up. If not, we'll very quickly lose our means to take action."

Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Legal professional for the District of New Jersey, introduced the costs towards McIver earlier this week.

"Right this moment my workplace has charged Congresswoman McIver with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Part 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding and interfering with legislation enforcement," Habba wrote on X, previously Twitter.

"That conduct can't be ignored by the chief federal legislation enforcement official within the State of New Jersey, and it's my Constitutional obligation to make sure that our federal legislation enforcement is protected when executing their duties," Habba mentioned in a memo accompanying her social media put up.

Earlier than being tapped for interim U.S. legal professional, Habba served as President Donald Trump's private lawyer and stumped for him on the 2024 marketing campaign path. She's one in all a number of senior Justice Division officers who beforehand labored for Trump in a private capability.

McIver slammed the costs towards her as "purely political," including that they "mischaracterize and warp my actions, and are supposed to criminalize and deter legislative oversight."

Paul Fishman, McIver's lawyer, known as the costs towards her "spectacularly inappropriate," saying in a press release: "She went to Delaney Corridor to do her job. As a member of Congress, she has the suitable and duty to see how ICE is treating detainees."

"Reasonably than facilitating that inspection, ICE brokers selected to escalate what ought to have been a peaceable state of affairs into chaos," Fishman mentioned. "This prosecution is an try to shift the blame for ICE's habits to Congresswoman McIver."

What Occurs Subsequent Republican Consultant Nancy Mace of South Carolina filed a decision this week to expel McIver from Congress. McIver responded to the transfer by taunting Mace on X, previously Twitter, writing: "Within the South I feel they are saying, 'bless her coronary heart.'"