House Republicans tried to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) over a messy confrontation at a New Jersey detention center, but their plan hit a wall with surprising bipartisan resistance.
According to The Hill, a Democratic motion to table the censure passed 215-207 on Wednesday, with several GOP lawmakers crossing the aisle to sink the effort. The resolution, led by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), also aimed to strip McIver of her seat on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Four Republicans, including Reps. Mike Flood (Neb.) and Don Bacon (Neb.), joined Democrats to block the measure, while two others voted "present." It's a rare crack in party lines, showing not everyone in the GOP is eager to wield the censure hammer over what some see as a politicized spat.
The incident at the heart of this drama unfolded in May outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in New Jersey, where McIver and other officials clashed with law enforcement. Footage shows her caught in a chaotic crowd as tensions flared over the attempted arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D).
Lawmakers have the right to unannounced visits at such facilities, but other officials like Baraka do not, leading to a heated standoff with immigration agents. According to a criminal filing, McIver shouted "Hell no!" and allegedly formed a "human shield" with others to block Baraka's arrest.
The filing further claims she used her forearms for "forcible contact" against agents, a charge that later led to serious accusations of assault. With penalties up to 17 years if convicted, the stakes for McIver are no small matter.
Days after the incident, then-interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba filed charges against McIver, a move Democrats slammed as an attempt to stifle congressional oversight of Trump-era policies. While charges against Baraka were dropped, earning a sharp rebuke from a federal judge for the "embarrassing" rush to prosecute, McIver's case lingers with a hearing set for October.
Baraka, meanwhile, has sued over his arrest, alleging false arrest and defamation, and pointing fingers at Habba for acting as a "political operative." Questions about Habba's authority, as a former Trump attorney whose interim role lapsed and was ruled unlawful by a federal judge, only deepen the mess.
McIver herself didn’t mince words, saying on Tuesday, "Instead of making life any better for the people he represents, [Higgins is] seeking to punish me for doing what he and his caucus are too cowardly to do: conduct real oversight." Her defiance highlights a broader frustration with what many see as GOP overreach in using censure as a political weapon.
Not content to play defense, Democrats countered with a censure motion against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), tied to allegations of personal misconduct that he denies. Though the accusing woman recanted and no charges were filed, Rep. Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.) pushed the measure to remind Republicans to "look in the mirror at their own conference."
Clark later hinted she might table her own motion but stressed the need to avoid making a "mockery" of disciplinary tools in Congress. Her point lands hard: if every disagreement turns into a censure showdown, the House risks becoming a circus rather than a governing body.
It's worth noting Clark’s frustration with the charges against McIver, which she called "trumped up." That skepticism resonates when you consider the shaky legal ground of Habba’s role and the dropped case against Baraka, suggesting this whole affair might be more about scoring points than seeking justice.
What started as a tense visit to a detention center has spiraled into a revealing snapshot of Washington’s dysfunction, where partisan grudges often drown out substantive work. McIver’s case, whether you see her as a defender of oversight or a disruptor, underscores how quickly policy disputes can turn personal.
The bipartisan vote to block her censure, though narrow, sends a signal that not all Republicans are willing to follow the party line when it smells of petty retaliation. Perhaps there’s hope yet for a Congress that prioritizes solving problems over staging public floggings.
In the end, with charges still looming over McIver and legal battles ongoing for Baraka, this saga is far from over. But if the House can’t find a way to focus on the people’s business instead of these tit-for-tat dramas, public trust will be the real casualty.
