Baraka was apprehended last week for unlawfully entering the premises of an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where he and three congressional representatives were seeking entry.
U.S. Magistrate Andre M. Espinosa advised officials in the Trump administration to refrain from making public statements regarding Baraka outside of the courtroom. He underscored the importance of adhering to the rules of professional conduct and reminded them of the appropriate limits for public commentary concerning an ongoing investigation and/or prosecution.
Earlier that day, Habba, who has served as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney for many years, took to social media to assert that the mayor had “deliberately opted to ignore the law” and had “engaged in trespassing” prior to his arrest last week at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark.
During the hearing, Espinosa determined that Baraka did not pose a flight risk.
Espinosa stated that evaluating the facts requires minimal effort, leading to the conclusion that the mayor of New Jersey’s largest city presents no significant flight risk or any flight risk whatsoever, nor does he pose a threat to the community that needs safeguarding against any circumstances.
Baraka is also a contender for the governorship of New Jersey.
In the previous week, Habba engaged in a conversation with Martha MacCallum of Fox News regarding Baraka’s arrest and the subsequent incursion of the facility by three Democratic Congress members from New Jersey.
Alina, according to their account of the incident, stated that the mayor was located outside the fence and was subsequently removed by a group of 20 armed individuals, who were reportedly intimidated by federal officials present on the premises. What is your perspective on this matter?
I will speak the truth and rectify their misconceptions. I apologize for your attempt to politicize this matter, but let me clarify: Members of Congress possess the authority to conduct investigations, and we permitted their entry—first and foremost,” she stated.
Secondly, the mayor was present within the facility and was repeatedly cautioned and requested to exit—on multiple occasions. He declined to comply, was subsequently arrested within the premises, exited when informed of his arrest, and was then handcuffed. This is the sequence of events, as stated by Habba.
I express my gratitude to our team, whom I fully support—despite the lack of understanding from many regarding the Department of Justice’s role. They executed their responsibilities flawlessly, the acting U.S. attorney continued.
Upon examining the individual Twitter accounts, it is evident that they have been candidly expressing their intentions to enter. There is a rationale behind the congress members’ behavior as they typically engage in such conduct. However, I must inform you that the mayor was present inside and was warned of impending arrest should he decline to exit after multiple notifications to do so. He opted not to comply, resulting in his arrest upon exiting the facility, as stated by Habba.
Although I have a strong affection for this game, I must emphasize that both the game itself and the strategies employed by the players remain intact and unaltered, as I clearly stated before being interrupted by MacCallum.
They were not attacked? None of them experienced an assault? That is their statement. They appeared to be in good condition. However, I am inquiring about the events that transpired within that location—it is quite remarkable, particularly after reviewing the names of several individuals associated with this facility,” the host remarked. “I am attempting to understand precisely what measures are being implemented to ensure the safety of individuals.
This behavior is referred to as grandstanding. Regrettably, when one violates the law, no amount of grandstanding can provide assistance, stated Habba.
