A group of former Republican members of Congress criticized the Trump administration for the “outrageous” criminal charges against a Democratic lawmaker accused of assaulting and impeding law enforcement at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in New Jersey.

Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Thursday.

Why It Matters

New Jersey Representative LaMonica McIver was charged in connection with a scuffle that broke out at the Delaney Hall detention center earlier this month, when McIver, two other Democratic lawmakers from New Jersey, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka visited the facility.

Tensions escalated at the Newark facility between ICE officials, protesters at the entrance and the four Democrats. McIver was later criminally charged and accused of attacking ICE agents, an allegation she has vehemently denied.

McIver’s prosecution follows last month’s arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping a migrant evade arrest by ICE agents.

What To Know

On Thursday, a group of 10 former Republican lawmakers defended McIver and called the charges against her “outrageous.”

“We unequivocally reject the charges against Congresswoman McIver,” they said in a statement sent to Newsweek.

“The constitutional duties of Members of Congress include not only passing legislation but also oversight of executive branch implementation of those laws. That is an essential dimension of American checks and balances. Rep. Mclver was present at the ICE facility as part of her official congressional duties. We believe this extreme response to the events of that day is unwarranted.”

The following former lawmakers signed the statement:

• Former Representative Claudine Schneider of Rhode Island
• Former Representative Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma
• Former Senator Gordon Murphy of New Hampshire
• Former Representative Barbara Comstock of Virginia
• Former Representative David Emery of Maine
• Former Representative Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland
• Former Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut
• Former Representative Peter Smith of Vermont
• Former Representative David Trott of Michigan
• Former Representative Joe Walsh of Illinois

“This behavior by the Trump administration is outrageous,” Schneider said. “Every member of Congress, both past and present, should be speaking up. If not, we will very soon lose our ability to do so.”

Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced the charges against McIver earlier this week.

“Today my office has charged Congresswoman McIver with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement,” Habba wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“That conduct cannot be overlooked by the chief federal law enforcement official in the State of New Jersey, and it is my Constitutional obligation to ensure that our federal law enforcement is protected when executing their duties,” Habba said in a memo accompanying her social media post.

Before being tapped for interim U.S. attorney, Habba served as President Donald Trump‘s personal lawyer and stumped for him on the 2024 campaign trail. She’s one of several senior Justice Department officials who previously worked for Trump in a personal capacity.

McIver slammed the charges against her as “purely political,” adding that they “mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight.”

Paul Fishman, McIver’s lawyer, called the charges against her “spectacularly inappropriate,” saying in a statement: “She went to Delaney Hall to do her job. As a member of Congress, she has the right and responsibility to see how ICE is treating detainees.”

“Rather than facilitating that inspection, ICE agents chose to escalate what should have been a peaceful situation into chaos,” Fishman said. “This prosecution is an attempt to shift the blame for ICE’s behavior to Congresswoman McIver.”

What Happens Next

Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina filed a resolution this week to expel McIver from Congress. McIver responded to the move by taunting Mace on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “In the South I think they say, ‘bless her heart.'”