June 4, 2025 Story by: Editor
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has formally requested that Attorney General Pam Bondi provide documentation and explanations regarding the DOJ’s decision to charge Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) with assaulting law enforcement officers during a May 9 incident at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
The incident occurred when McIver, alongside Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, attempted an unannounced oversight visit to Delaney Hall, a facility operated by the private prison firm GEO Group under a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During the visit, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested by federal agents, leading to a confrontation in which McIver allegedly elbowed an ICE officer. She was subsequently charged with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement.
Raskin’s letter to Bondi, first obtained by Axios, contends that the charges against McIver violate long-standing policies intended to prevent politically motivated prosecutions. He has posed eight specific questions to the DOJ, requesting a response by June 10.
Raskin’s inquiry is part of a broader effort led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who has framed the response as a collective action to defend McIver.
The charges against McIver have sparked significant controversy, with Democrats arguing that the prosecution is an attempt to intimidate lawmakers and suppress oversight of immigration enforcement practices. McIver has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that her actions were misrepresented and politically motivated.
The incident and subsequent charges have become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
As the DOJ responds to Raskin’s inquiry, the case continues to draw national attention and could have significant implications for congressional oversight and the treatment of public officials engaging in such activities.
