Republicans Betray Voters
House Republicans Betray Voters, Block Censure of Dem Over ICE Altercation
The House of Representatives voted down a Republican-led censure motion against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) on Tuesday, with five GOP members crossing party lines to join Democrats in defeating the measure.
The vote failed by a margin of 215 to 207, effectively ending efforts to formally reprimand McIver for her involvement in an altercation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers that occurred in April.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) forced the vote using a procedural mechanism that allowed him to bypass Republican leadership.
The Louisiana congressman brought the censure resolution directly to the House floor for consideration.
The censure motion specifically targeted McIver’s position on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Republicans argued that her membership on the panel represents a “significant conflict of interest” given that the committee provides oversight for ICE.
McIver faces federal charges from the Justice Department for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officials during the April incident.
Federal prosecutors have moved forward with the case despite the congresswoman’s denials of wrongdoing, per Axios.
The incident in question took place outside the Delany Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
McIver and several colleagues were conducting what she described as an “oversight” visit to the privately operated facility. According to court documents, facility officials denied McIver and her group access to the detention center.
The situation escalated when law enforcement officers moved to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during the ensuing protest.
Federal prosecutors allege that McIver elbowed an officer during the altercation as arrests were being made.
The congresswoman has disputed this characterization of events and maintains her innocence.
McIver claims she was the victim of assault rather than the perpetrator.
She has characterized both the federal charges and the censure motion as politically motivated attacks against her.
Following Tuesday’s vote, McIver issued a defiant statement rejecting Republican attempts to pressure her. “If House Republicans think they can make me run scared, they’re wrong,” she declared.
The New Jersey Democrat further criticized Higgins for bringing the censure motion.
“We were all elected to do the people’s work,” McIver stated.
“I take that responsibility seriously—Clay Higgins clearly does not.”
House Republicans ultimately voted with Democrats to defeat the censure measure.
Five GOP members voted against the motion outright, while two others voted “present” during the proceedings.
The Republican defections have raised questions about party unity and discipline within the GOP caucus. Some conservative observers view the cross-party voting as a betrayal of Republican principles and priorities.
Political analysts suggest the five Republicans who voted against censure could face primary challenges in future elections. Conservative activists may target these members for supporting what they view as a defense of anti-law enforcement behavior.
The potential for primary challenges could put several Republican seats at risk in the 2026 midterm elections. However, most political observers believe Republicans will likely maintain their overall House majority despite any individual seat losses.
Some conservative commentators have characterized the vote as an opportunity to identify and remove establishment-aligned members from the Republican Party.
They view primary challenges as a way to strengthen the party’s conservative credentials, Trending Politics outlined.
The failed censure attempt has also sparked debates about the effectiveness of congressional oversight mechanisms.
Critics argue that the inability to censure a member facing federal charges undermines the institution’s credibility.
Supporters of the censure motion expressed frustration that McIver continues to serve on a committee with direct oversight responsibilities for the agency involved in her alleged misconduct.
They argue this creates an inherent conflict that compromises the committee’s work.
5 House Republicans voted with Democrats to block the censure of LaMonica McIver for assaulting federal agents. These are their names:
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) September 3, 2025
1. Don Bacon (NE)
2. Mike Flood (NE)
3. Dave Joyce (OH)
4. Michael Turner (OH)
5. David Valadao (CA)
Andrew Garbarino (NY) and Nathaniel Moran… pic.twitter.com/O2RiQQXyBq
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