A Washington legal watchdog is demanding a congressional ethics investigation into several House Democrats who stormed a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prison in New Jersey earlier this month.
Judicial Watch claimed that the lawmakers — Reps. Rob Menendez (D-NJ), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) — violated at least three House rules and put ICE agents at risk in a political protest meant to embarrass President Donald Trump.
The watchdog, predicting that violations will be confirmed, said it wants the House Office of Congressional Conduct to “recommend appropriate disciplinary measures,” including fines, censure, and even expulsion.
“The conduct of McIver, Menendez, and Watson Coleman, not only disrupted a secure federal facility but also endangered law enforcement personnel and detainees — all as part of a political stunt,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
“The House needs to take action to punish this dangerous misconduct,” he added.
What the lawmakers said was that a protest on May 9 turned into a melee when ICE opened the gates to the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark to allow a bus of illegal migrants through.
The Department of Homeland Security said that as the bus entered, the Democrats “stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.”
The mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, was arrested after he “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself” from the scene, according to DHS. He was later released.
Homeland has threatened the House members with arrest.
JW Ethics Letter by web-producers
Fitton cited three House rules he believes the trio violated. His letter cited the rules:
1 — Conduct Unbecoming a Member of Congress (House Rule XXIII, Clause 1). House Rule XXIII, Clause 1, states that a member “shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.” The representatives’ alleged actions — storming a secure federal facility, engaging in physical altercations with federal officers, and contributing to a chaotic scene that endangered law enforcement and detainees — appear to violate this standard. Specifically, DHS’s claim that Rep. McIver assaulted an ICE officer, supported by body camera footage, suggests conduct that undermines the dignity and integrity of the House. Even if the representatives believed they were exercising oversight authority, their failure to coordinate with ICE officials and their alleged disregard for security protocols reflect poorly on their roles as public servants.
2 — Potential Violation of Federal Law (18 U.S.C. § 111 – Assaulting a Federal Officer). DHS has accused Rep. McIver of assaulting an ICE officer, with video evidence purportedly showing her pushing past law enforcement personnel. Additionally, DHS alleges that all three representatives engaged in actions that could constitute interference with federal operations. Such conduct may violate 18 U.S.C. § 111, which prohibits assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in the performance of their duties. While the representatives deny these allegations, the existence of body camera footage and DHS’s public statements warrant an investigation to determine whether their actions crossed legal boundaries.
3 — Misuse of Congressional Oversight Authority. While Members of Congress have the legal right to conduct unannounced oversight visits to ICE facilities, this authority does not grant license to disrupt operations, bypass security, or engage in physical confrontations. DHS reports that the representatives failed to request a formal tour, which would have been accommodated, and instead rushed through security gates during a detainee transfer, creating a dangerous situation. This conduct suggests a possible abuse of their oversight privileges for political purposes, potentially violating House ethics standards that require members to act in good faith and within the bounds of their authority.
Judicial Watch also claimed that the lawmakers put the public, ICE officers, and migrants in danger with their action.
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The Democrats have said that they did nothing wrong and were simply protesting the arrest and deportation of violent illegal migrants.
Watson Coleman’s office accused DHS of “blatantly lying,” and Menendez called ICE’s actions to control the protest an “act of intimidation.”