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Rep. LaMonica McIver appeared in federal court Tuesday as she continued to fight a three-count indictment accusing her of impeding and interfering with federal officers at a Newark, New Jersey, ICE detention facility in May.<\/p>\n
Her attorneys argued she is being selectively and vindictively prosecuted because her political views clash with the Trump administration, CNN\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n
Judge Jamel Semper did not rule on McIver\u2019s motion to dismiss the charges but raised concerns about Department of Homeland Security statements online referencing the incident.<\/p>\n
The judge said it was prejudicial for \u201cfact-free\u201d social media posts from government officials to remain public while McIver\u2019s case is pending, warning they could taint a future jury pool.<\/p>\n
Semper noted that some government posts included information \u201ccounter to the indictment,\u201d such as claims that McIver trespassed and that the incident was tied to Antifa activity.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Mark McCarren told the court that DHS press releases about the incident have already been removed and said he would push to have the remaining social media posts taken down.<\/p>\n
One post still visible on the official DHS X account suggested members of Congress \u201cstormed\u201d the facility gate.<\/p>\n
McIver, who was indicted in June, faces charges connected to what prosecutors describe as an attempt to physically interfere with the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka outside the facility.<\/p>\n
At the time, McIver was visiting the ICE site with Democratic Reps. Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman for an oversight inspection as part of her work on the House Homeland Security Committee.<\/p>\n
Defense attorneys said ICE employees delayed access to the lawmakers and obstructed their oversight visit.<\/p>\n
Officials removed Baraka from the facility when he tried to join the group, and he was later arrested outside for trespassing alongside protesters. The charge was later dropped.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors allege McIver \u201cslammed\u201d her forearm into an ICE agent and grabbed him in an attempt to restrain him while also striking another officer as she returned inside the secure area.<\/p>\n
They said they plan to rely on surveillance and body camera footage showing a scuffle lasting just over a minute if the trial proceeds as scheduled on November 10.<\/p>\n
McIver\u2019s attorney, Paul Fishman, argued that any actions she took were covered by the Constitution\u2019s Speech or Debate Clause because she was performing official legislative duties.<\/p>\n
Judge Semper questioned whether an alleged assault outside the facility gate could be considered part of congressional business.<\/p>\n
McIver\u2019s defense team described the prosecution as retaliatory and politically motivated, calling it \u201cpart of a broader partisan agenda of ending \u2018wokeness.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump has previously commented on the case, saying the \u201cdays of woke are over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fishman said McIver\u2019s case stands in contrast to Trump\u2019s past pardons of individuals charged in the January 6 Capitol riot.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was charged with something she never would\u2019ve been charged with if she was a Republican,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Semper challenged the defense on that point, noting that the other Democratic lawmakers present during the May 9 incident were not charged.<\/p>\n
Fishman said McIver was shoved by an ICE agent and caught in a confrontation she did not start.<\/p>\n
McIver expressed concern on X, saying she has heard prosecutors suggest she could face up to 17 years in prison.\u201cHearing prosecutors say I could get 17 years in jail for showing up to do my job, for protecting the people that I represent, who have elected me to protect them\u2014it is stressful,\u201d she wrote. \u201cSome nights are sleepless, but we have to stand up for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
The galaxy is buzzing with anticipation\u2014Ahsoka Season 2 is officially on the horizon! After the resounding success of the first season, fans are eager to dive back into the Star Wars universe with everyone\u2019s favorite former Jedi, Ahsoka Tano. Whether you’re curious about the <\/p>\n
Before diving into what’s next, let\u2019s quickly revisit where it all began. Ahsoka<\/em>, a Disney+ original series, follows Ahsoka Tano, the beloved character first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars<\/p>\n\n