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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Democrat mayor SUES Trump darling Alina Habba for ordering his ICE arrest
The mayor of Newark, New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Trump prosecutor Alina Habba following a dramatic arrest last month at an immigration detention facility. Democrat Ras Baraka, who is running to be New Jersey's next governor, filed the federal lawsuit on Tuesday against Habba, the interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey. The suit accuses her of false arrest, malicious prosecution and defaming him in an effort to advance her political career, according to the Wall Street Journal. The MAGA prosecutor had charged Baraka with trespassing when he arrived at Delaney Hall in the outskirts of Newark, which is now being used as a migrant detention center, on May 9. But less than two weeks later, Habba - who once served as Trump's personal attorney - announced her office was dropping the charges against Baraka without offering any explanation. The mayor is seeking an unspecified amount of 'compensatory damages for pain, suffering, stress, humiliation' and other purported consequences of the incident, as well as punitive damages. However, Baraka argued his lawsuit 'is not about revenge' 'Ultimately, I think this is about them taking accountability for what has happened to me,' he said at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Newark. 'Somebody should be responsible for what happened,' he continued, according to the New York Times. 'To handcuff me, to drag me away, to take my fingerprints and mugshots for a misdemeanor, it's egregious and malicious.' 'The reality is I didn't do anything. I went down there for a press conference. I was invited to the gate, people approached me and were very loud and abusive to me,' he continued. The mayor has maintained that he was invited to the property to conduct oversight along with members of New Jersey's congressional delegation - Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman. But when Baraka arrived, he claims Ricky Patel, the supervising agent with Homeland Security Investigations who is also named as a defendant in the case, denied him entry into the facility and asked him to leave the premises. Patel even threatened to arrest him and allegedly egged his fellow agents to 'take him down, at which point Baraka says Homeland Security agents violently pulled his arms, handcuffed him and took him into custody, Politico reports. Dramatic footage from the scene then shows the mayor walking from the facility side of the incident showed Baraka walking from the facility side of the fence to the street side, where residents were protesting the ICE facility. Soon, uniformed officials could be seen coming to arrest him. As they did, people could be heard urging the group to protect the mayor. The video shows a crowd forming and pushing as officials led off a handcuffed Baraka. The mayor's lawsuit now claims Habba authorized his 'false arrest' in violation of the Fourth Amendment despite 'clear evidence that Mayor Baraka had not committed the petty offense of' defiant trespass. It argues she instead was acting as a 'political operative' in bringing the trespassing charge against him. The federal suit also contends that race played a role in the episode, alleging that Habba and Patel sought 'to assure that the evening news included videos of the black mayor of Newark, New Jersey being led away in handcuffs by federal officials.' Additionally, it accuses Habba of making defamatory statements in media interviews and on social media, wrongfully accusing Baraka of grandstanding and saying he willingly chose to disobey the law. Much of the lawsuit leans on remarks US Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa made as he hit out at Habba and her office when he threw away the charges. 'The hasty arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, followed swiftly by the dismissal of these trespassing charges a mere 13 days later, suggests a worrisome misstep by your Office,' the judge wrote in his ruling. The fact that the trespassing charge was withdrawn, Baraka said, meant he had to defend himself in the media and argue his case when he had done nothing wrong. 'I want somebody to apologize, write a letter, say this was wrong, come out and say, "We shouldn´t have done this,"' the mayor said at his press conference. Aides to the Newark mayor have further claimed that Patel received several calls just before Baraka was taken into custody, according to the Times. His lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, said the lawsuit will now enable her to subpoena the supervising agent's phone records to determine who he may have been speaking to. The lawsuit also serves as a response to another suit the Justice Department filed against Newark and three other New Jersey cities over their sanctuary policies, Baraka said. But it comes on the first day of early voting in the Democratic primary for governor to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. The Newark mayor has portrayed himself in the election as the most aggressive Democrat to fight the Trump administration. At his press conference on Tuesday, though, Baraka described the arrest and fallout as a distraction from his campaign. 'But I also think that us not responding is consent,' he said. He is being supported in his lawsuit by Congresswoman McIver, who is facing two assault charges relating to the May 9 protest. She has denied the charges, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month. 'The way Mayor Baraka was treated at Delaney Hall was outrageous,' she told 'It is beyond clear that there were never any legal or factual basis to arrest or charge him. 'The [Trump] administration's playing politics with our justice system is disgraceful,' McIver added. Habba shared her thoughts on the matter in a post on X Monday night In fact Smith said she expects to sue Trump's administration, but is required to wait six months. 'It's really important for all of us to stand up for democracy,' the lawyer said. 'Mayor Baraka files this lawsuit not just to vindicate himself, but for all of us, for our freedom, for all our constitutional rights.' Neither Habba nor Patel have responded to the lawsuit, and has reached out to the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. But in a post on X Monday night, Habba wrote: 'My advice to the mayor - feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey.' Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told 'Mayor Baraka is trying to rewrite history with this frivolous lawsuit. 'It's too late: The American people saw with their own eyes his actions that put the safety of our law enforcement agents and the staff at Delaney Hall at risk — all for the sake of the dangerous criminals housed there.'
Fox News
5 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Baraka Sues Trump-appointed Prosecutor
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening… Newark Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ras Baraka filed a lawsuit Tuesday against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, accusing her of false arrest and malicious prosecution in connection with his May 9 arrest and charges outside a federal immigration center. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, accuses Habba of acting politically in Baraka's May 9 arrest outside the Delaney Hall detention center, near Newark Liberty International Airport. Baraka was arrested during a protest outside the facility, after being accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings from law enforcement officials to leave. He was held in custody for several hours before being released. The U.S. attorney's office said 13 days after it brought charges against Baraka that it was dismissing the case "for the sake of moving forward." The civil lawsuit filed by Baraka's attorneys seeks damages for what they described as his "false arrest and malicious prosecution," as well as the allegedly defamatory remarks Habba made about his case, including on social media. The lawsuit includes screenshots of Habba's social media posts in question…READ MORE SIGNATURE ISSUE: Trump DOJ investigating Biden pardons to family, death row inmates 'REALLY SAD': Boulder terror attack witness describes 'horrific' scene at pro-Israel rally LOOKING BACK: Lawmakers, officials warned about terrorist attacks from foreign nationals long before Colorado TERROR UNLEASHED: Mohamed Soliman planned Molotov cocktail attack after gun purchase denial GROWING THREAT: Boulder terror attack suspect showed signs of growing 'lone-wolf' radicalization, says former FBI supervisor SERVE AND PROTECT: Boulder antisemitic terror attack spurs response from major cities WARTIME READY: Challenges posed by Trump and Putin push UK to adopt new NATO first defense policy HOMELAND ON EDGE: After Ukraine's surprise drone assault on Russia, new attention drawn to sensitive sites stateside CRIMEA CHAOS: Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows DIVINE PRESENCE: Huckabee condemns efforts to erase Jewish history to the Holy Land as 'absurd' 'BETRAYAL': US citizen who fought for ISIS in Syria sentenced to 10 years in prison ATOMIC IMPASSE: Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows A NATION ON EDGE: After Ukraine's surprise drone assault on Russia, new attention drawn to sensitive sites stateside 'AGGRESSIVE AFFRONT': House Dems urge GOP to condemn DHS for handcuffing Rep Nadler staffer, order Noem to testify 'PART OF THE DESIGN': Jasmine Crockett agrees during town hall that 'Republicans want poor people to die' FISCAL SHOWDOWN: Rand Paul says $5 trillion debt increase in 'Big, Beautiful Bill' a deal-breaker 'HELPING OUT DHS': Patel's immigration push at FBI yields 10,000 arrests since January PAPER TRAIL: Liberal city mayor hit with ethics complaint over alleged lavish gifts TAXPAYER WASTE: HHS ends Biden-era COVID-19 testing program that bled taxpayers years after pandemic HOPE UNDER FIRE: DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens 'lawfare' to attacks on Trump and nominees PROTECTING CHILDREN: FBI urges public to provide tips on mutilation of children with 'gender-affirming' surgeries CAMPUS DECEPTION: Red state dean ousted after admitting on hidden cam she was secretly pushing DEI Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hot Mic Catches Aftermath of Judge Ripping Trump's Prosecutors ‘a New A**hole'
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka reacted colorfully to a judge's scolding of Trump administration prosecutors for their 'embarrassing' decision to charge him with trespassing—then quickly retract those charges. 'Jesus, he tore these people a new a--hole. Good grief,' he said afterward on a hot mic. That comment, the New Jersey Globe reported, came after a more than five-minute tongue lashing by U.S Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa aimed at Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Demanovich's office over the initial misdemeanor charges against Baraka. He and other Democrats were arrested outside an immigration detention facility earlier this month while attempting to enter and conduct oversight. 'An arrest of a public figure is not a preliminary investigative tool. It is a severe action,' Espinosa said during Wednesday's virtual court hearing. 'It should only be undertaken after a thorough, dispassionate investigation of credible evidence.' 'Federal prosecutors serve a single paramount client: justice itself,' Espinosa added. 'Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth, and to the upholding of due process for all.' Yet that wasn't what happened, the judge said. 'The apparent rush in this case, culminating today in the embarrassing retraction of charges, suggests a failure to adequately investigate,' Espinosa went on. 'Your office must operate with a higher standard than that.' Baraka's May 9 arrest occurred amid protests against the reopening of Delaney Hall, which Baraka alleges is operating illegally. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate later went on CNN to say his arrest was 'targeted.' The mayor's prosecution, which some on the right thoroughly enjoyed, was led by interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba. A former personal attorney for Donald Trump and a current counselor to him, Habba listened in on the hearing, according to The Washington Post, and declined to speak. Habba on Monday also charged Rep. LaMonica McIver with assaulting two ICE agents. McIver has called the prosecution 'purely political.' The visit to the detention center 'should have been peaceful and short,' she said in a statement. 'Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka,' she continued. 'The charges against me are purely political—they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight." The case against McIver will continue—for the moment, at least.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Alina Habba drops federal trespassing charge against Dem mayor, offers ICE facility tour: 'Nothing to hide'
Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka is no longer facing a federal trespassing charge over an incident earlier this month at Delaney Hall, a privately operated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in his city. "After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka's misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward," acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba said in a statement on Monday evening. "In the spirit of public interest, I have invited the mayor to tour Delaney Hall. The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor so he can see that firsthand," she continued. However, Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged for allegedly "assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement." Fox News has learned that McIver must turn herself in as soon as possible, though it is up to the magistrate on the specifics of when she must turn herself in and how. "I am glad that the U.S. Attorney has agreed that this case should be dismissed," he said. "I have had strong relationships with prior U.S. Attorneys, and I plan to speak with the current U.S. Attorney about issues on which we can cooperate. As to Delaney Hall, I will continue to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees, and I will continue to press the facility to ensure that it is compliant with City of Newark codes and regulations." "I understand that the U.S. Attorney has chosen to charge Congresswoman LaMonica McIver with assaulting law enforcement," Baraka continued. "Congresswoman McIver is a daughter of Newark, past Newark Council President, a former student of mine, and a dear friend. I want to be clear: I stand with LaMonica, and I fully expect her to be vindicated." Baraka and three congressional lawmakers – McIver, Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman – were outside the ICE facility earlier this month with a group of protesters when the gates opened to allow an ICE bus in. All four officials then allegedly rushed through the gates past security, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "If it was a typical U.S. citizen, and they tried to storm into a detention facility that's housing dangerous criminals or any person at all, they would be arrested," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told "Fox News Live" host Kevin Corke earlier this month. "Just because you are a member of Congress or just because you're a public official, does not mean you are above the law." Baraka's arrest triggered a local political firestorm, as he is also in the Democratic primary for governor. He appeared in court last Thursday for a status conference, where the case was expected to proceed to trial at the time for the class C misdemeanor charge. The court appearance led supporters of Baraka to rally outside the Newark federal courtroom, and Habba personally showed up to the conference.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
DOJ cites bodycam footage in charging document for House Dem McIver
The Department of Justice has accused Rep. LaMonica McIver of assaulting two federal agents at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey last month, according to a new charging document. The document cites bodycam footage from law enforcement officers who recorded events as McIver and two other New Jersey lawmakers stormed the ICE facility. Prosecutors say the first officer McIver allegedly assaulted was a Homeland Security Investigations agent and the second was an ICE agent. The DOJ accuses McIver of having "slammed her forearm into the body of a uniformed HSI agent and reached out and tried to restrain the agent by forcibly grabbing him." The charging document also states that McIver "pushed an ICE officer & used her forearms to forcibly strike the agent." McIver rejected the charges in a public statement, arguing they are "purely political." "Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district," she wrote. "We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short. Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka." "The charges against me are purely political – they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight," she continued. "This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid our clearly in court." Prosecutors say McIver helped create a "human shield" and blocked agents from handcuffing Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after he ignored numerous warnings to leave the property and was told he would be arrested. When the HSI agent told the mayor he was going to arrest him, McIver interjected and yelled "Hell no! Hell no! Hell no!" according to the charging document. The HSI agent then ordered Baraka to put his hands behind his back and displayed his handcuffs. McIver and other members of Congress "surrounded the Mayor and prevented HSI from handcuffing him and taking him into custody," prosecutors say. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem weighed in on the charges against McIver on Monday, saying, "no one is above the law." "If any person, regardless of political party, influence or status, assaults a law enforcement officer as we witnessed Congresswoman McIver do, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the secretary wrote. "We thank our brave ICE law enforcement officers for their service to this great nation."
