Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver appeared virtually before a federal judge in Newark on Wednesday, facing felony charges of assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers in a chaotic confrontation at an ICE detention facility in Newark.

The charges, announced by Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, stem from a May 9 incident at Delaney Hall, where McIver assaulted ICE agents while attempting to block the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

McIver, who denies the allegations, calls the charges "purely political" and claims ICE escalated the situation.

In a 15-minute virtual hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey Adams, McIver spoke minimally, responding only with "Yes, your honor" when asked if she had received the criminal complaint and understood her rights.

Judge Adams released McIver on her own recognizance, requiring no bail.

She ordered McIver to surrender any firearms she owns and restricted her travel to domestic destinations, with international travel permitted only for congressional duties and requiring court approval for personal trips.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 11.

The Department of Justice alleges McIver, identifiable in a red jacket in ICE bodycam footage, "slammed her forearm" into one Homeland Security Investigations agent, "forcibly" grabbed him, and used her forearms to strike another ICE officer while attempting to thwart Baraka’s arrest.

The complaint cites Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 111(a)(1), charging her with two counts of assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers, each carrying a potential penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Bodycam footage, widely circulated on social media, captures McIver shouting, “I touch whoever I want, motherf*cker!” during the altercation.

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McIver issued a statement Monday defending her actions:

Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district. We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short. Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka. The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight. This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.

House Democrat leadership swiftly condemned the charges as an attack on congressional oversight.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Vice Chair Ted Lieu, and Assistant Leader Joe Neguse issued a joint statement warning the prosecution is "extreme, morally bankrupt, and lacks any basis in law or fact."

"The proceedings initiated by the so-called U.S. Attorney in New Jersey is a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to intimidate Congress and interfere with our ability to serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch," the Democrat congressmen wrote. "Everyone responsible for this illegitimate abuse of power is going to be held accountable for their actions. House Democrats will not be intimidated by the Trump administration. Not today. Not ever."

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, whose trespassing charges from the same incident were dropped on Wednesday, expressed solidarity with McIver, stating, "I understand that the U.S. Attorney has chosen to charge Congresswoman LaMonica McIver with assaulting law enforcement. Congresswoman McIver is a daughter of Newark, former Newark Council President, a former student of mine, and a dear friend. I want to be clear: I stand with LaMonica, and I fully expect her to be vindicated."

President Trump, addressing the charges at the Capitol on Tuesday, remarked, "I have no idea who she is. That woman was out of control. She was shoving federal agents. She was out of control. The days of that crap are over in this country. We’re going to have law and order."

The prosecution of McIver, a rare federal case against a sitting member of Congress for charges beyond fraud or corruption, has intensified tensions between the Trump administration and Democrats over immigration policy.

McIver thought she could bully her way through federal agents and walk away scot-free. The Trump administration’s not playing that game.