Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues U.S. Attorney after being arrested at an ICE protest; the White House calls the lawsuit meritless and politically driven.

Mayor Claims Political Motivation Behind Arrest

The White House on Tuesday rebuked Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, labeling it a politically motivated distraction. Baraka, who is running for governor of New Jersey, filed the suit following his May 9 arrest during a protest outside a federal immigration detention center.

Baraka alleges that his brief detainment for criminal trespassing outside the Delaney Hall facility near Newark Liberty International Airport was a case of false arrest and malicious prosecution. His lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, claims that Habba acted as a “political operative” and not within her official legal capacity.

The protest on May 9 included several Democratic officials, such as Representatives Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. Baraka was taken into custody after allegedly refusing repeated warnings from law enforcement to leave the premises. He was released after several hours.

Thirteen days after the arrest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office dropped the charges, stating it was doing so “for the sake of moving forward.” Despite the dismissal, Baraka is seeking damages and contends that Habba made defamatory statements about him, including through social media.

White House and Habba Push Back

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed the lawsuit as “meritless” and described it as a tactic to maintain political relevance. “Much like Mr. Baraka’s last stunt—storming a federal detention facility in defense of criminal illegal aliens—this meritless lawsuit is just his latest desperate attempt to try and stay relevant among the far-left Democrat base,” Jackson said in a statement.

Alina Habba also responded publicly, calling the lawsuit “shocking” and urging Baraka to redirect his energy. “My advice to the mayor—feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey,” she wrote on X.

Baraka’s legal team accused Habba of acting outside the bounds of her official duties, stating she had operated in her “individual personal capacity” during and after the arrest. They maintain the arrest and public remarks were designed to damage Baraka’s political ambitions.

As of press time, Baraka’s team had not responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit is expected to intensify political tensions in the lead-up to the New Jersey gubernatorial race.