Newark mayor sues a top US attorney for false arrest, malicious prosecution
Newark Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ras Baraka has taken legal action against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, alleging false arrest and malicious prosecution stemming from his May 9 arrest outside a federal immigration center. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, claims that Habba acted in a politically motivated manner in arresting Baraka during a protest outside the Delaney Hall detention center near Newark Liberty International Airport.
Baraka was initially charged with criminal trespassing last month outside the immigration detention center, where he was accused of ignoring warnings from law enforcement officials to leave. However, the U.S. attorney’s office later announced that it would drop the charges against Baraka, citing the need to move forward.
In his civil lawsuit, Baraka is seeking damages for what his legal team describes as false arrest and malicious prosecution, as well as defamatory remarks allegedly made by Habba about his case on social media. Screenshots of Habba’s social media posts have been included as evidence in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also implicates DHS Investigations agent Ricky Patel, accusing him of green-lighting the arrest despite clear evidence that Baraka had not committed the offense of ‘defiant trespass.’ The legal action comes as Baraka continues his gubernatorial campaign in the lead-up to the June 10 Democratic primary.
This developing news story highlights the ongoing legal battle between Baraka and Habba, shedding light on the challenges faced by political figures in the justice system. For more updates on this case, stay tuned for further developments.
Breanne Deppisch, a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital, covers the Trump administration, focusing on the Justice Department, FBI, and other national news. Her insights into the intricacies of this case provide valuable context for understanding the complexities of the legal system.
