Newark Mayor Ras Baraka filed a lawsuit against the US attorney for New Jersey on Tuesday over his arrest last month while protesting outside an ICE detention facility in his city.
Baraka accused interim US Attorney Alina Habba, who is also a personal lawyer of President Trump, of “malicious prosecution” and violating his Fourth Amendment rights following the May 9 arrest.
“Defandant Habba issued the defamatory statement and authorized the false arrest of Mayor Baraka despite clear evidence that Mayor Baraka had not committed the petty offense of ‘defiant trespass,’” the lawsuit stated.
“In authorizing and/or directing the arrest of Mayor Baraka without proper legal grounds, Defendant Habba was acting for political reasons,” the suit added.
The trespassing charge against Baraka was later dismissed.
Habba, however, appeared unfazed by the lawsuit and mocked the New Jersey Democrat.
“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.
