Mike Johnson Says Dems Involved In Tense Encounter With ICE Agents Could Face 'Legal Ramifications'

House Speaker Mike Johnson said three Democratic lawmakers involved in a tense encounter with ICE agents in New Jersey last week could face "legal ramifications," as well as disciplinary measures in Congress.

"There's three possible disciplinary actions the House can take. Sanction a member, kick them off committees, a new tradition begun by the Democrats in recent years, and you can also expel someone from Congress. That requires two thirds of the votes, which is not likely because the margins are small, but we're looking at what is appropriate," Johnson said on Wednesday.

Johnson went on to claim that the lawmakers "violated" the law and equated their situation with that of Hannah Dugan, the Wisconsin judge who was indicted on Tuesday by a grand jury on charges of helping an immigrant avoid arrest.

"I'm told she's facing potentially six years in jail and $350,000 in fines because she obstructed justice. "hat these House Democrats did is in that same lane... I think there's some legal ramifications to play out here and we'll see how it works."

The lawmakers in question, Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, clashed with ICE while agents arrested New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka for trespassing after attempting to enter a detention facility that is set to play a key role in immigration enforcement in the region.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is also involved in the matter, accusing the lawmakers of committing "felonies" during the incident. "This wasn't oversight, this was committing felonies. This was going out and attacking people who stand up for the rule of law. And it was absolutely horrible," Noem said on Fox News on Tuesday.

In contrast, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned Republicans against sanctioning or arresting the lawmakers, calling it a "red line." "They'll find out. They'll find out. They'll find out," he said after being asked how he would respond if such an event were to unfold.

While Mike Johnson did not lay out a clear strategy, Rep. Budy Cartel has proposed stripping them of committee assignments.

Menendez, Watson Coleman and McIver rejected the attempt in a joint statement, saying that "members of Congress have a legal right to conduct oversight at any DHS detention facility without prior notice, and that's exactly what we were doing last week."