'Red line has been crossed': Trump accused of filing 'bogus charges' to 'intimidate' Dems

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Alternet

May 20, 2025 | 05:06AM ET


House Democratic Leadership has strongly condemned interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba's decision to charge Rep. LaMonica Mclver (D-N.J.), calling it "an attack on the American people." The Justice Department announced on Monday that it has filed charges against McIver, accusing her of assaulting law enforcement officers earlier this month at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark. In a statement released Monday, House Democrats said the party "will respond vigorously in the days to come at a time, place and manner of our choosing."

"The criminal charge against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is extreme, morally bankrupt and lacks any basis in law or fact," said the statement, shared by House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on the social platform X. "Members of Congress have a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight of the executive branch wherever and whenever it is needed. We are lawfully permitted to show up at any federal facility unannounced to conduct an inspection on behalf of the American people," the Democratic lawmakers said.

"By visiting the detention center in Newark, Rep. McIver and two other Members of Congress were upholding their oath of office. They didn’t assault anyone, but were themselves aggressively mistreated by illegally masked individuals," the statement added. "There is no credible evidence that Rep. McIver engaged in any criminal activity, and she would not have been permitted to tour the facility had she done anything wrong," the Democratic leadership said.

The statement further said that the proceeding launched "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." House Democrats vowed not to "be intimidated by the Trump administration."

Read more: https://www.alternet.org/ice-mayor-arrest-trump/

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House Democratic Leadership Statement on Trump's Attempt to Intimidate Congress.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) 2025-05-20T01:21:44.632Z

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Hakeem Jeffries
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House Democratic Leadership Statement on Trump's Attempt to Intimidate Congress.
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9:20 PM · May 19, 2025

Post by @repjeffries

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[sakabatou]

1. Let's hope they actually do something

Then again, repukes are still in charge.

[JohnSJ]

2. If a "redline" has been crossed, then WTF are you going to do about it? Because just talking tough isn't

going to cut it.

If this is "bogus charges", then take them to court.

[stillcool]

4. Obviously, the Congresswoman is going to court

in New Jersey. I don't understand legal remedies for false charges. Do they happen before the Congresswoman goes to court? What if they drop the charges? I'm sure she has a host of legal talent at her fingertips, but is there something Jeffries should be doing?

[Moostache]

7. Habba should already have been disbarred. She is a human affront to decency and a vapid scumbag.

Take the case to court.
Demand a trial by jury.
Demand televised proceedings.
Make a defense that puts Trump on the stand.

The press will LOVE that...would make OJ trial seem like a high school adaptation of "12 Angry Men" by comparison and would be the media's wet dream - an endless, useless story that they don't have to travel to cover obsessively.

[stillcool]

8. how would she be disbarred?

and who would do that, Jeffries? The case is going to court. So would you expect her to file charges against the New Jersey
District Attorney for false arrest prior to going to court? Being from New Jersey wouldn't the Congresswoman know her best course of action? And demanding televised proceedings...who controls that in New Jersey? I get so confused with so many offering solutions, but they don't seem to connect to the here and now

[BumRushDaShow]

15. She has past "demerits"

Judge Kaplan May Refer Alina Habba to Bar for Discipline: Legal Analyst

I know the E. Jean Carroll case is still in appeal and I don't know if she dropped off that case with this current "interim" position but she is known to play with fire and get burned.

The disbarment process was done with Ghouliani who was eventually permanently disbarred from both NY and D.C. (thanks to the hard work of the late NJ Rep. Bill Pascrell who got things going when he filed an initial petition to the Disciplinary Board) and attempts were/are being made with Sidney Powell (the latest being post-guilty plea in GA). Jenna Ellis had her license suspended for 3 years (after pleading out in GA).

[stillcool]

24. So Jeffries could ask to go on a news station

to ask Judge Kaplan to bar the Attorney General. Reading through the comments it is obvious that Jeffries is responsible to fix this arrest, in public, on television, and now. Obviously, all these people must know something I don't. Why is that? Why can I not understand? Where does their information come from?

[BumRushDaShow]

29. First (and I get you are being somewhat facetious) I don't know how they work legal representation

for members of Congress in their elective office capacity (vs as personal). But the person making such a request would most certainly be the official "lawyer" for the Rep.

Second - Habba isn't the AG. She is just an "interim" (temporary/not-confirmed) U.S. Attorney for that specific District in NJ.

Third - as a Rep. Jeffries, who himself is a lawyer (or any of the Reps or other people) could file a complaint against her (and I expect could reference her past issues with the E. Jean Carroll case).

An article about what Rep. Bill Pascrell did is here (and apparently it wasn't just Ghouliani he did it for but also 22 of 45's campaign lawyers too) - https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/pascrell-seeks-disbarment-giuliani-22-trump-campaign-lawyers/

[stillcool]

32. to a degree a bit facetious but there has to be

a logical mindset that produces 'Democrats suck' statements. I get trolls and the probability that much of the catch-phrases can be as a result of repetition. But there are many posters here who do not fit that mold. I truly do not get how they rationalize their seemingly heartfelt statements lodged against generic democrats. I am missing something and cannot seem to ignore the implied degradation. Thank you for responding, thank you for your links and explanations, and thank you for all your posts!

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Well this is partly why

I have over 3 dozen "news" sites in tabs (and many more that I pull up as needed) to try to post about what Democrats ARE DOING.

That has been one of my biggest complaints - if an individual "doesn't see it (I guess on MSNBC) then "nothing" is happening. Aside from a number of certifiable "trolls", I think most want to "see" something "dramatic". People like Bernie or AOC or Jasmine Crockett get a lot of kudos here but those types are rare. There are many Democrats who are just as "fiery" but are not always "in the news" but do their thing in "boring" Congressional hearings that few watch.

I also keep yelling that liberal media millionaires need to "buy more microphones" (broadcast outlets) to run our programming 24/7. But I also know that many on DU have claimed to have completely "cut the cord" and many others use no "social media" (where a lot of what Democrats "are doing" is being discussed).

So it comes down to the "herding cats" thing. "We" are not a monolith and consume our information in all different ways.

[electric_blue68]

47. TY for all your efforts at news monitoring!

[BumRushDaShow]

49. Most welcome!

[Wicked Blue]

18. She could be disbarred by whatever Bar Association she belongs to, I believe

Last edited Tue May 20, 2025, 01:15 PM - Edit history (1)

NJ, DC, somewhere else.

[stillcool]

23. by Jeffries?

this post is about the Democratic Party and "their" response. So, does that mean that the National Democratic Party in DC. has the power to change the course of action "today" in New Jersey to nullify the Congresswoman's arrest so as to appease those who are demanding such action.

[Wicked Blue]

27. I am replying to the question asking how she could be disbarred

Wikipedia:

"Generally, disbarment is imposed as a sanction for conduct indicating that an attorney is not fit to practice law, willfully disregarding a client's interests, commingling funds, or engaging in fraud that impedes the administration of justice. In some states, any lawyer who is convicted of a felony is automatically suspended pending further disciplinary proceedings, or, in New York, automatically disbarred. Automatic disbarment, although opposed by the American Bar Association, has been described as a convicted felon's just deserts.

In the United States legal system, disbarment is specific to regions; one can be disbarred from some courts while still being a member of the bar in another jurisdiction. However, under the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which have been adopted in most states, disbarment in one state or court is grounds for disbarment in a jurisdiction which has adopted the Model Rules."

[Bev54]

12. They really need to start countersuits making these idiots, bringing bogus suits, personally responsible

and hopefully make them pay in monetary form or other (losing their license), to ensure this nonsense stops by turning it back on them.

[JohnSJ]

13. That is an excellent suggestion.

[speak easy]

38. What do you suggest?

[JohnSJ]

39. Someone made the suggestion of counter suits which sounds good to me. Just saying a "red line has been

crossed" and not doing anything is meaningless than if you don't back it up.

[whopis01]

42. Draw a new redline a little further down the road

and tell them they had really better not cross this one.

[comradebillyboy]

3. Yet one very high profile progressive figure, whose

name I dare not speak, tells us that it's really Democrats who are a threat to Democracy.

[Cha]

36. Yeah, Well.. you can imagine what

I think of that.

[comradebillyboy]

44. I generally share your views. Always happy to

hear from you.

[Cha]

46. You, too, comradebillyboy. 💙🌈

[Magoo48]

5. There are no red lines when there is no enforcement.

[harumph]

14. hammer meet nail.

[C_U_L8R]

6. Discovery will be interesting

When the identities of the ICE masked thugs are revealed.

[Random Boomer]

9. Which Red Line are we at now?

#345 or #346? I keep losing count.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

35. Just what I was thinking. Until we start

seeing frequent, massive protests and every Dem contacts their reps in Congress & the press (letters to the editor? Calling news offices? I don't know, my but I keep hearing about "public response" to certain reports or articles, so I so there must be ways they hear us) on every "red line" crossing, we are missing the moment. It's beginning to approach "too late" already.

[pandr32]

10. The Felon is the one behind the Jan.6 Capital riot and break-in.

This is political and personal. He is still attacking our government and people.

[Grins]

11. The Reich-wing meme, "Weaponization of government," comes to mind.

And irony takes a holiday....

[Miguelito Loveless]

16. Strongly worded letters

are utterly useless. Will the Dem leadership finally figure this out?

[Falcon101]

25. How about a letter

Read om the Capitol steps or im an empty chamber?

[Miguelito Loveless]

30. How about they

"get into good kind of trouble"?

[Tetrachloride]

17. more like a billllllllions of red lines per day

[Escurumbele]

19. When are Democrats going to start turning the tables on these thugs? Begin lawsuits against them.

There is so much material to sue trump and the republican thugs, do it!

[BumRushDaShow]

21. They (members of Congress) have in some cases but in other cases their suits were thrown out

because they don't have "standing" and/or could not "show harm" to themselves (in their elective capacity).

But please don't dismiss the fact that the Democrats who ARE "turning the tables" and suing, are all the blue state AGs and Governors. There are dozens of cases going right now.

Don't just focus on a handful of our "leaders" who are at least "making some noise".

Here is a running list of the 244 cases being tracked (8 resolved), a bunch having been filed by DEMOCRATS - https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/

[Warpy]

20. What's new about this? Nothing.

Republicans don't investigate crimes, they investigate people, always Democrats, to see if they can find any wrondoing and use it to destroy them. They hounded the Clintons with bogus charges and endless investigations for decades.

Clearly this is not how things should work in this country. They will not stop until they are stopped.

[C Moon]

22. "strongly condemned" That'll do it.

[moniss]

26. Crumb the 1st et al

made the decision that their biggest political mileage was going after a black woman who is a member of the House rather than focusing on the mayor of Newark. Look for the GQP and Johnson to make moves to use this against her current term and in the next election.

[NJCher]

28. That will do them little

Good in that district. Very blue, won't want to hear it.

[JustAnotherGen]

34. Yep - Good luck finding

A jury that would convict.

AG Matt Platkin's statement on this ends with " . . . and Alina Habba would do well to remember that."

The Defense attorney is going to eat Habbas lunch then throw her in the dumpster in back of the school at 4:00 pm.

[notinkansas]

31. 'at a time, place and manner of our choosing'??

That's pretty weak sauce. How about NOW?

[HereForTheParty]

40. The time is 'never' and the place is 'nowhere'

nm

[notinkansas]

41. That can't happen.

This needs to be addressed immediately. 45 is testing the waters to see just how much he can get away with. He needs to be stopped.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

37. Federal Law expressly provides that members of Congress can inspect federal facilities without prior notice

Congresswoman McIver was following the law and doing her job as a member of Congress

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[jmowreader]

43. How do you plead?

"I plead that this entire farce is an unconstitutional act as Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution clearly states that members of Congress cannot be arrested except in cases of Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace. Oversight of the Executive Branch is none of those; rather, it is a lawful exercise of Congressional power. We request that this case be dismissed with prejudice and that Ms. Habba be sanctioned by the Court."

[MichMan]

45. She is facing felony assault charges.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

48. Hot mic catches Newark mayor's stunned reaction as judge bashes Alina Habba over arrest

This makes me smile. The Newark mayor was caught saying “Jesus, he tore these people a new a--hole. Good grief.”

Hot mic catches Newark mayor's stunned reaction as judge bashes Alina Habba over arrest

www.rawstory.com/trump-justic...

— 🦋❄️🍁Baron🍁❄️🦋 (@baron333.bsky.social) 2025-05-21T20:03:29.796Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-justice-department-2672181747

A federal judge dismissed a case against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after he was arrested outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center in New Jersey earlier this month — and attacked the Justice Department for pursuing it.

Interim New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, Trump former criminal lawyer and a staunch ally, announced an investigation into the case last week......

New Jersey Globe reporter Zach Blackburn reported Wednesday, the judge gave "Baraka’s attorneys a chance to rebut the charges," but then "seem[ed] confused by the prosecutor’s conduct throughout the case."

“The hasty arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, followed swiftly by the dismissal of these trespassing charges a mere 13 days later, suggests a worrying misstep by your office,” Federal magistrate judge Andre Espinosa said. “An arrest, particularly of a public figure, is not a preliminary investigative tool. It is a severe action, carrying significant reputational and personal consequences, and it should only be undertaken after a thorough, dispassionate evaluation of credible evidence.”.....

“Your office must operate with a higher standard than that," the judge demanded.

“Federal prosecutors serve a single paramount client: justice itself,” Espinosa added. “Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application to the law, to the pursuit of truth, and to the upholding of due process for all.”

Baraka and other New Jersey lawmakers, including McIver, went to the ICE facility after it began housing detained migrants in early May, the report said. The charges were dismissed "with prejudice," which means they cannot be brought again.

Baraka was caught on a hot mic after the hearing saying, “Jesus, he tore these people a new a--hole. Good grief.”