Federal appeals court refuses to drop charges against US congresswoman McIver

A divided federal appeals court has rejected attempts to dismiss criminal charges against Democratic congresswoman LaMonica McIver over selective prosecution claims.

Federal appeals court refuses to dismiss criminal charges against congresswoman McIver

A divided federal appeals court has declined to throw out criminal charges against Democratic congresswoman LaMonica McIver, Google News MT reports, rejecting arguments that the prosecution was politically motivated.

The three-judge panel split on the question of selective prosecution, with the majority ruling that the case could proceed. McIver's defence had argued that she was being singled out for prosecution based on her political affiliation rather than the merits of the alleged offence.

The charges stem from an incident at Delaney Hall, a detention facility, where McIver was accused of assaulting an ICE officer during a confrontation involving members of Congress. The Trump administration pursued federal charges following the clash.

Judges on the panel disagreed over whether the selective prosecution claim warranted further scrutiny, with the dissenting member indicating the argument deserved a closer look. The majority, however, found insufficient grounds to halt the proceedings at this stage.

The ruling means McIver, a House progressive representing a New Jersey district, will face the charges in court. The decision was reported by multiple outlets including The Hill, Fox News, The New York Times, The Guardian and The Washington Post, reflecting the case's significance as an intersection of congressional immunity questions and federal law enforcement powers under the current administration.

Source: Google News MT