Democrat congresswoman pleads not guilty to impeding, interfering with ICE * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh

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U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J. (Official portrait)U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J.

A Democrat member of Congress facing multiple criminal counts for impeding federal law enforcement officers, interfering with their duties and assaulting them for her violent confrontation with them at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility has pleaded not guilty.

U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted on the charges.

She was indicted by a grand jury several weeks for “forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark last month,” according to reports.

Her lawyer, Paul Fishman, claimed, in a statement, “Congresswoman McIver pleaded not guilty because she is not guilty. On May 9, she was at Delaney Hall to carry out her responsibilities as Member of Congress. She was there to inspect an ICE detention facility and to see for herself whether the Trump administration is obeying the laws and Constitution of the United States. ICE responded by creating a risky and dangerous situation, and now the Justice Department is doubling down by trying to punish the Congresswoman for doing her job.”

WND reported earlier when constitutional expert Jonathan Turley explained McIver’s situation is just a symptom, more or less, of a bigger agenda by the Democrats.

He explained the “new defense” being used by Democrats, from city council to Congress, is that “their official duties include obstructing the official functions of the federal government.”

“The latest claimant of this license is Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), who was charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding law enforcement officers during a protest at Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. McIver is shown on video forcing her way into an ICE facility and striking and shoving agents in her path,” he said.

He said officials were able to subdue the incursion quickly.

But the messaging from McIver was that she could do what for other citizens would be “trespass and assault” because of her “legislative oversight” privileges as a member of Congress.

Her comments were a reprise of what other Democrats already have demanded.

“Rep. Alexandria Ocacio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) declared ‘You lay a finger on someone – on Bonnie Watson Coleman or any of the representatives that were there – you lay a finger on them, we’re going to have a problem,'” the report noted.

And Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., “ominously warned the federal government that Democrats would bring down the house if it tried to charge McIver.”

He said, “It’s a red line. They know better than to go down that road.”

He continued, “Even judges are claiming the same license. In Wisconsin, Judge Hannah Dugan has been charged with obstructing a federal arrest of an illegal immigrant who appeared in her courtroom. Dugan heard about agents waiting outside in the hallway to arrest the man and went outside to confront the agents. She told them to speak to the Chief Judge and that they needed a different warrant. The agents complied and the Chief Judge confirmed that they could conduct the arrest. In the interim, however, Dugan led the man out a non-public door and facilitated his escape.”

The fault in making the “oversight” claim is that the law does not allow even members of Congress to have unauthorized access to secure federal facilities. Members of Congress can subpoena the executive branch, or get a court order, but they “do not have immunity from criminal laws in unilaterally forcing their way into any federal office or agency,” he said.

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.