Congressman Smith stands with Congresswoman McIver Against Baseless Claim

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) issued the following statement regarding the criminal charge of Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) related to the incident at the Newark, NJ ICE detention facility:
 
The charges filed against Congresswoman McIver are completely without justification and a gross abuse of prosecutorial power. She upheld her oath of office by conducting congressional oversight and lawfully visiting a Trump immigration detention facility in Newark. This charge against Congresswoman McIver is a weaponization of our justice system and it must not stand.

It is a disturbing overreach for the Executive Branch to criminalize a Member of Congress conducting congressional oversight. If Trump administration officials are interested in examples of real assaults on officers of the law, they should refer back to the January 6th insurrection and the attacks on Capitol Police officers. I join my colleagues in standing behind Congresswoman McIver against this baseless charge.