© Getty ImagesRepublican legal activists are filing a complaint in defense of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for federal judges to remove her from her position.
Republican legal activists have asked the Ethics Committee to investigate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries after he called on federal district judges to remove U.S. Attorney Alina Habba from her position.
Jeffries' complaints about Habba stemmed from her decision to charge Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., with obstructing Homeland Security agents during an altercation at an immigration facility in Newark on May 9.
McIver has pleaded not guilty. She is now headed for trial on Nov. 10.
"The so-called U.S. Attorney in NJ maliciously indicted Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for doing her job," said Jeffries in a post on X. "Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who must go.
"She must be rejected by the Federal District Court Judges who are considering whether to retain her."
The Article III Project wrote a letter to the House Ethics Committee claiming Jeffries "improperly insert[ed] himself into a criminal proceeding."
"This is clear corruption by House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries."
"Does anyone think that that's a serious complaint, I mean really? Does anyone think that's a serious complaint from this hack, right-wing extreme group?" Jeffries told Fox News in response to the letter.
"The people of NJ deserve better. If I said it, I meant it."
The Ethics Committee may or may not choose to act on Article III Project's letter. The group did not file a formal complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), which would have been required to study the complaint before giving a formal recommendation to the Ethics Committee.
Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Habba, a former Trump campaign legal spokesperson and White House counselor, to the position in March in an acting capacity.
Habba's confirmation has been held up in the Senate. But if a majority of U.S. district court judges in New Jersey decide to allow her to retain her position on Monday, she could stay on through the Trump presidency.
Of the 17 sitting district court judges from New Jersey, 15 were nominated by Democratic presidents.
© Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesRep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting an ICE officer, and is headed for trial on Nov. 10, 2025
McIver and two other members of Congress said they were conducting a congressional oversight visit that coincided with an immigration protest, when a clash ensued with federal agents.
Comment: A sample of the good rep's behaviour
According to a DOJ press release, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was allowed into the Delaney Hall immigration facility's secured area and then federal agents warned him to leave, but he refused to do so.
When officers tried to arrest Baraka, McIver allegedly blocked them, putting her arms around the mayor, and "slammed her forearm" into one officer while grabbing another and using both of her forearms to forcibly strike the second officer.
Each of the first two counts carries a maximum eight-year prison sentence. The third carries up to one year.
The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, has filed a complaint against Habba for bringing charges against McIver and Baraka, alleging she politically targeted the pair in retaliation for participating in the protest and oversight visit because their views oppose those of President Donald Trump.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Jeffries' office for comment.
Reader Comments
Because this is exactly the way the congress works - no matter what fraction of the uni-party is currently at the helm.