Latest news with #McIver
Axios
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
House to vote on kicking Rep. McIver off committee
The House is set to vote on a Republican measure that would censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) and remove her from the House Homeland Security Committee. Why it matters: McIver was indicted last month and pleaded not guilty to three counts of interfering with law enforcement officers over a physical altercation with ICE officers in May. Justice Department prosecutors have accused McIver of elbowing and grabbing an ICE agent outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. McIver has denied the allegations and said she was the one assaulted during a chaotic scuffle in which Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested. Driving the news: Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) on Wednesday introduced what is known as a privileged motion to force a vote on his McIver censure resolution. Under House rules, Republican leadership has to put the measure up for a vote within days of the House's return in September unless Higgins withdraws it. The three-page measure alleges McIver's actions "do not reflect creditably on the House" and that her continued service on the Homeland Security Committee "would represent a significant conflict of interest." The measure does not target McIver's membership on the Small Business Committee. What they're saying: Higgins told Axios in an interview at the Capitol that he waited until just before the House's five-week August recess to see if Democrats would remove McIver from the committee themselves. House Republicans' rules mandate that their indicted members must surrender all their committee assignments, but Democrats' rules only force them to give up committee leadership positions. Still, Higgins said, McIver "should not be participating on the committee that has oversight and voting authority over the branch of federal government that she's been indicted for committing crimes against." The other side: "Clay Higgins is a bigot who wants to be back in the news," McIver said in a statement provided to Axios through a spokesperson. "This resolution aims to kick me off the committee that presides over the Department of Homeland Security and shame me for doing the oversight work that is my job," she added. "Good luck, Clay." Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), who was with McIver at Delaney Hall, said her colleague is being "singled out" for "conducting Congressional oversight of an ICE detention facility which was so poorly maintained that an external wall collapsed and four detainees escaped." Both McIver and Watson Coleman alleged that the measure is an attempt to distract from Republicans' internal blowup over the Epstein files. What to watch: It is not clear how Republican leadership will respond, with a spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declining to weigh in.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
House GOP seeks to censure Democrat McIver over New Jersey detention center incident
WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Republican proposed a resolution Wednesday to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver over an incident with law enforcement during a congressional oversight visit to a new immigration detention facility in her home state of New Jersey. Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana pushed forward the measure, which also calls for removing McIver from her seat on the Homeland Security Committee, as the House was preparing to recess for the August break. As a privileged resolution, it can be considered for swift action as soon as lawmakers return in September. Higgins read from the resolution on the House floor, arguing that McIver violated the chamber rules that require a member 'to behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.' He said her continued service on the Homeland Security Committee 'would represent a significant conflict of interest.' The GOP action comes as House Republicans in the majority have been quick to punish Democratic lawmakers for transgressions large and small — and in this situation, before McIver's case has played out in court. She has pleaded not guilty to charges brought by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, stemming from the May 9 incident. A trial date has been set for November. The congresswoman has vowed not to be intimidated by the legal and political actions against her. 'Clay Higgins is a bigot who wants to be back in the news,' McIver said in a statement. She pointed to the way House Republicans are 'running home to hide,' having recessed for August break a day early. 'This resolution aims to kick me off the committee that presides over the Department of Homeland Security and shame me for doing the oversight work that is my job. Good luck, Clay,' she said. Members of Congress have been conducting oversight of the federal detention centers that are being stood up by the Trump administration across the nation as part of the president's mass deportation agenda. Lawmakers have been assessing how best to conduct such work amid blowback by the Trump administration. At the time, McIver, a new lawmaker first elected in 2024, was making the visit with other House Democrats and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at the privately owned 1,000-bed facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is using as a detention center. McIver was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Two of the counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third is a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. Baraka was also arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped and is suing Habba over what he called a malicious prosecution. A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word 'Police.' It is not clear from police bodycam video if the contact was intentional, incidental or the result of jostling in the chaotic scene. The prospect of a House censure used to be rare, with fewer than 30, but has become more frequent in recent years. ___ Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed to this report.
Hamilton Spectator
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
House GOP seeks to censure Democrat McIver over New Jersey detention center incident
WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Republican proposed a resolution Wednesday to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver over an incident with law enforcement during a congressional oversight visit to a new immigration detention facility in her home state of New Jersey. Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana pushed forward the measure, which also calls for removing McIver from her seat on the Homeland Security Committee, as the House was preparing to recess for the August break. As a privileged resolution, it can be considered for swift action as soon as lawmakers return in September. Higgins read from the resolution on the House floor, arguing that McIver violated the chamber rules that require a member 'to behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.' He said her continued service on the Homeland Security Committee 'would represent a significant conflict of interest.' The GOP action comes as House Republicans in the majority have been quick to punish Democratic lawmakers for transgressions large and small — and in this situation, before McIver's case has played out in court. She has pleaded not guilty to charges brought by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba , a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, stemming from the May 9 incident. A trial date has been set for November. The congresswoman has vowed not to be intimidated by the legal and political actions against her. 'Clay Higgins is a bigot who wants to be back in the news,' McIver said in a statement. She pointed to the way House Republicans are 'running home to hide,' having recessed for August break a day early. 'This resolution aims to kick me off the committee that presides over the Department of Homeland Security and shame me for doing the oversight work that is my job. Good luck, Clay,' she said. Members of Congress have been conducting oversight of the federal detention centers that are being stood up by the Trump administration across the nation as part of the president's mass deportation agenda. Lawmakers have been assessing how best to conduct such work amid blowback by the Trump administration. At the time, McIver, a new lawmaker first elected in 2024, was making the visit with other House Democrats and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at the privately owned 1,000-bed facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is using as a detention center. McIver was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Two of the counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third is a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. Baraka was also arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped and is suing Habba over what he called a malicious prosecution. A nearly two-minute video clip released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver at the facility inside a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on other side of the barrier, where other people were protesting. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word 'Police.' It is not clear from police bodycam video if the contact was intentional, incidental or the result of jostling in the chaotic scene. The prospect of a House censure used to be rare, with fewer than 30, but has become more frequent in recent years. ___ Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Hill
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Higgins moves to force vote on censuring McIver after ICE facility clash
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) on Wednesday moved to force a vote on a resolution to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who faces charges resulting from a clash with officials at an immigrant detention center. The measure, which spans three pages, calls for McIver to be censured and removed from the House Homeland Security Committee. The move from Higgins came the same day the House broke for a weeks-long August recess, meaning the matter will not be dealt with until September. Under House rules, leadership must act on the resolution within two legislative days, either staging a vote on it, motioning to refer it to committee or motioning to table it. It remains unclear how Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will handle the matter. The House has censured 28 members in its history, with the most recent being Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) in March after he shouted and waved his cane in the air during President Trump's first joint address to Congress of his second term. McIver pushed back on Higgins's resolution, calling the Louisiana Republican 'a bigot who wants to be back in the news.' 'Rs just shut down the House floor early and left to avoid confronting their president's relationship with Epstein. Now they want us to believe they're doing something when they're really running home to hide,' McIver wrote in a thread on X. 'This resolution aims to kick me off the committee that presides over the Department of Homeland Security and shame me for doing the oversight work that is my job. Good luck, Clay.' she added. McIver stands accused of assaulting law enforcement with her forearms during a chaotic clash that ensued after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers began to arrest Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka (D) outside a New Jersey immigration detention facility in May. McIver was visiting the facility with a group of elected officials. McIver has disputed that she assaulted anyone, and footage of the scrum shows her raising her arms as she's jostled among the competing factions. The crime carries a significant penalty – as much as 16 years in prison if McIver is convicted. House Homeland Security Committee members like McIver, as well as other Democrats, have made a point of visiting detention facilities as the Trump administration seeks to increase immigration arrests after Trump promised the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history. The Department of Homeland Security has since tried to limit lawmaker visits, something Democratic members said was designed to block oversight. Prosecutors — then led by interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba — received significant scrutiny for bringing charges against Baraka that they later dropped. U.S. District Judge Andre Espinosa in a Wednesday hearing said the arrest suggested a 'worrisome misstep' by the New Jersey's U.S. attorney's office, noting the 'apparent rush' in bringing the case that culminated in the government's 'embarrassing' retraction of the charge.
Los Angeles Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Democrats wrestle with how to conduct oversight as Trump officials threaten, arrest and charge them
WASHINGTON — Just hours after she pleaded not guilty to federal charges brought by the Trump administration, Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was surrounded by dozens of supportive Democratic colleagues in the halls of the Capitol. The case, they argued, strikes at the heart of congressional power. 'If they can break LaMonica, they can break the House of Representatives,' said New York Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Federal prosecutors allege that McIver interfered with law enforcement during a visit with two other House Democrats to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark. She calls the charges 'baseless.' It's far from the only clash between congressional Democrats and the Republican administration as officials ramp up deportations of immigrants around the country. Sen. Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed by federal agents, wrestled to the ground and held while attempting to ask a question at a news conference of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. At least six groups of House Democrats have recently been denied entry to ICE detention centers. In early June, federal agents entered the district office of Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and briefly detained a staffer. Congressional Republicans have largely criticized Democrats' behavior as inflammatory and inappropriate, and some have publicly supported the prosecution of McIver. Often in the dark about the Trump administration's moves, congressional Democrats are wrestling with how to perform their oversight duties at a time of roiling tensions with the White House and new restrictions on lawmakers visiting federal facilities. 'We have the authority to conduct oversight business, and clearly, House Republicans are not doing that oversight here,' said New Jersey Rep. Rob Menendez, one of the House Democrats who went with McIver to the Newark ICE facility. 'It's our obligation to continue to do it on-site at these detention facilities. And even if they don't want us to, we are going to continue to exert our right.' The prospect of facing charges for once routine oversight activity has alarmed many congressional Democrats who never expected to face criminal prosecution as elected officials. Lawmakers in both parties were also unnerved by the recent targeted shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers — one of them fatal — and the nation's tense political atmosphere. 'It's a moment that calls for personal courage of members of Congress,' said Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.). 'I wish that we had more physical protection. I think that's one of those harsh realities that members of Congress who are not in leadership recognize: that oftentimes, we do this job at our own peril, and we do it anyway.' The arrests and detentions of lawmakers have led some Democrats to take precautionary measures. Several have consulted with the House general counsel about their right to conduct oversight. Multiple lawmakers also sought personal legal counsel, while others have called for a review of congressional rules to provide greater protections. 'The Capitol Police are the security force for members of Congress. We need them to travel with us, to go to facilities and events that the president may have us arrested for,' said Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.). As the minority party in the House, Democrats lack the subpoena power to force the White House to provide information. That's a problem, they say, because the Trump administration is unusually secretive about its actions. 'There's not a lot of transparency. From day to day, oftentimes, we're learning about what's happening at the same time as the rest of the nation,' said Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), who led a prayer for McIver at the Capitol rally. To amplify their concerns, Democrats have turned to public letters, confronted officials at congressional hearings and used digital and media outreach to try to create public pressure. 'We've been very successful when they come in before committees,' said Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), who added that she believed the public inquiries have '100%' resonated with voters. Congressional Democrats say they often rely on local lawmakers, business leaders and advocates to be their eyes and ears on the ground. A few Democrats say their best sources of information are across the political aisle, since Republicans typically have clearer lines of communication with the White House. 'I know who to call in Houston with the chamber. I think all of us do that,' Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) said of how business leaders are keeping her updated. Garcia said Democrats 'need to put more pressure' on leading figures in the agriculture, restaurant and hospitality sectors to take their concerns about the immigrant crackdown to President Trump's White House. 'They're the ones he'll listen to. They're the ones who can add the pressure. He's not going to listen to me, a Democrat who was an impeachment manager, who is on the bottom of his list, if I'm on it at all,' Garcia said. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) had a working relationship with a for-profit ICE facility in his district until the Department of Homeland Security in February ended reports as part of an agency-wide policy change. A member of Crow's staff now regularly goes to the facility and waits, at times for hours, until staff at the Aurora facility respond to detailed questions posed by the office. Still, many House Democrats concede that they can conduct little of their desired oversight until they are back in the majority. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) said that 'real oversight power and muscle' only comes 'when you have a gavel.' 'Nothing else matters. No rousing oratory, no tours, no speeches, no social media or entertainment, none of that stuff,' Veasey said. 'Because the thing that keeps Trump up at night more than anything else is the idea he's going to lose this House and there'll be real oversight pressure applied to him.' Brown writes for the Associated Press.
