Mayor of Newark files lawsuit against prominent US attorney for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution

Baraka Files Lawsuit Against US Attorney

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has taken legal action against Alina Haba, New Jersey’s interim U.S. Attorney, following his arrest outside a federal immigration center on May 9. The lawsuit was initiated this past Tuesday and claims that Baraka faced false arrests and malicious charges tied to the incident.

According to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, Baraka suggests that Haba acted with political motivations during his arrest outside Delaney Hall, which is located near Newark Liberty International Airport. Baraka was detained after participating in a protest and allegedly disregarding warnings from law enforcement. He spent several hours in custody before being released.

Last month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced it would drop the charges against Baraka “to move forward.”

The civil suit seeks damages for what Baraka’s attorney calls “false arrests and malicious prosecutions,” alongside efforts to reclaim losses related to the incident, including on social media. The lawsuit even presents screenshots of a social media post from Haba that is at the heart of the matter.

It’s worth noting that Baraka had been charged with criminal trespassing outside the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Detention Center, which accommodates 1,000 beds near Newark. Haba contends that Baraka “ignored multiple warnings” from officials at the detention center.

Baraka described the circumstances leading to his arrest, stating, “After they finally told us to leave, I informed them I was departing, and then they came outside the gate and arrested me.” He expressed this sentiment previously during an interview on MSNBC, adding it seemed like a targeted action.