A New Jersey judge dismissed the charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, harshly rebuking interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba over his arrest.
U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa dropped the charges against Baraka on Wednesday, following his May 9 arrest due to a scuffle between him and three House Democrats and law enforcement authorities outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Espinosa was immediately dismissive of the Department of Justice’s case, warning Habba against making statements about Baraka outside of court at a previous hearing. His Wednesday dismissal of charges, at Habba’s request, was accompanied by harsh words for her.
“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,” 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.”
He described the initial charges as “embarrassing,” proceeding to berate prosecutors for over five minutes.
“Federal prosecutors serve a single paramount client: justice itself,” Espinosa said. “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 of the law, to the pursuit of truth, and to the upholding of due process for all.”
Baraka was caught on a hot mic after the hearing’s conclusion, expressing crude approval for the lecture.
“Jesus, he tore these people a new a******. Good grief,” he said, according to the New Jersey Globe.
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After an initial strong showing, Habba’s office decided against pursuing the case against Baraka.
“After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward,” Habba said in a letter. “In the spirit of public interest, I have invited the mayor to tour Delaney Hall. The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor so he can see that firsthand.”