The governor then stated that McIver had every right to be at Delaney Hall to inspect the facility where detained immigrants were being held. “I would argue, even though Mayor Baraka isn't a congressperson, he had every right to inspect that building and I hope this gets resolved sooner than later,” Murphy said.

As Democratic lawmakers allege that President Donald Trump is weaponizing the justice system in New Jersey, the leading Republican candidates for governor are rallying behind his administration‘s decision to charge Democratic U.

Prosecuting McIver is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption.

The Trump administration is investigating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and pressing charges against a New Jersey congresswoman, leveraging its control over the criminal justice system to pursue Democratic rivals.

New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is continuing to deny any wrongdoing outside a detention center in Newark on May 9. A federal complaint says Congresswoman McIver attempted to stop the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka and pushed into agents for Homeland Security.