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Published On: Sat, May 10th, 2025

U.S. Attorney Alina Habba: Newark Mayor Baraka “Grandstanding,” “Does It Look Like They Were Assaulted?

Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, discussed the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka outside an ICE detention facility this afternoon during an appearance on FOX News:

MARTHA MACCALLUM, FOX NEWS: Alina Habba, U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. So Alina, their description of what happened-they said the mayor was outside the fence and he was taken away by 20 armed individuals, and they were all intimidated by federal officials on the property. What do you say? ALINA HABBA: I will say the truth and correct them. I’m sorry you’re trying to politicize this, but let me be clear: Congresspeople have the right to investigate, and we allowed them in-number one. Number two, the mayor was inside the facility and was warned and asked to leave several times-more than once. He refused to leave, was put under arrest inside the facility, walked out when he was told he was under arrest, and then was cuffed. That’s what happened. Thanks to our team who I stand behind-who many people don’t understand, the Department of Justice encompasses that. They did everything correctly. If you look at the individual Twitter accounts, they have been openly saying they will go in. There’s a reason the congresspeople are standing out there running amok and running their mouths as usual. But I will tell you this: the mayor was inside and told he would be under arrest inside when he refused to leave after several notifications that he should remove himself. He chose not to do so and then was placed under arrest when he walked out of the facility. So while I love this game, the game and the tactics of the individuals that are perfectly fine and were not touched, I will say very clearly- MARTHA MACCALLUM: They were not assaulted? None of them were assaulted? That is what they said. They looked fine. But I’m asking in terms of what happened in there-it is very striking, especially after having read the list of at least some of the people in this facility. And I’m trying to figure out exactly what they are doing to protect people. ALINA HABBA: It’s called grandstanding, unfortunately. When you break the law, there’s no grandstanding that will help you.

Earlier, she confirmed that Baraka is under arrest.
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