On June 25, U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) entered a not guilty plea to a three-count federal indictment alleging that she assaulted, resisted, obstructed, and interfered with federal law enforcement officers on May 9 while on a congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility in Newark. 

According to reports, two felony counts carrying a maximum sentence of eight years in prison each and one misdemeanor count carrying a maximum sentence of one year in prison, are included in the indictment. The charges were brought by interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a conservative and staunch supporter of right-leaning ideals. As she and others formed a human circle around Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to protest his arrest, the DHS-released video seems to show McIver's left and right elbows making contact with an officer during a scuffle.

"They will not intimidate me," McIver said resolutely during her arraignment before Judge Jamel Semper. "They won't stop me from doing my job," she shared according to ABC News, formally entering a not guilty plea.

Under the leadership of former New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, McIver's defense team contends that the charges are politically motivated and that she was lawfully carrying out her congressional oversight responsibilities. This description was confirmed by her spokesperson, who described the prosecution as "political intimidation" and "baseless."

Mayor Baraka, who witnessed the incident and whose own trespassing charge was later dropped, was among the supporters who gathered outside the courthouse.

Political leaders have given the case careful consideration, emphasizing that McIver's prosecution is an unusual legal challenge for a sitting member of Congress that has nothing to do with corruption.