Several House Republicans joined Democrats in voting down a measure to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver following her indictment by the Justice Department over a May altercation outside an immigration detention center. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) had pushed for the reprimand, which also sought to remove McIver from the House Homeland Security Committee. The three-page resolution accused McIver of conduct that “does not reflect creditably on the House” and stated her continued role on the committee would present a “significant conflict of interest.” However, it did not affect her membership on the Small Business Committee, Axios reported.
Despite Higgins’ effort, several Republicans were reluctant to support the punishment. Five Republicans—Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood of Nebraska, Dave Joyce and Mike Turner of Ohio, and David Valadao of California—joined all Democrats in tabling the measure. Two others, Reps. Andrew Garbarino of New York and Nathaniel Moran of Texas, voted present, according to POLITICO.
Bacon later explained his vote by saying it was best to allow the House Ethics Committee to complete its investigation. A spokesperson for Turner said his vote was cast in error but did not change the outcome.
McIver, along with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, had been attempting an oversight visit at the Newark, N.J., immigration facility when federal agents arrested the city’s mayor. Though the mayor’s charges were dropped, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba filed assault charges against McIver, carrying up to 17 years in prison.
McIver denies the allegations, but video appears to show her engaging physically with an ICE officer, allegedly elbowing and grabbing him outside the Delaney Hall detention center.