ICYMI: Sophia Bush interviews McIver on Oversight, Newark, and Being A Pregnant Mother In Congress

"The only thing I could think about that day was protecting those who were with me.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In case you missed it, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver sat down with Sophia Bush on her podcast, Work In Progress, to do a deep dive into McIver's journey to Congress and experience being prosecuted by the Trump DOJ for doing her job. The two hit it off, bonding over the importance of female role models, McIver's path to service, and what drives her to keep fighting.

Watch the full conversation here. Excerpts of their conversation are below.

McIver on how she first became interested in public service

• "My 10-year-old self seeing me now as a congresswoman would be like, 'what in the heck? This girl is a cCongresswoman?' I would have never put my finest dollar on that. So it's just a shocker, and it's something that I definitely didn't dream of wanting to do.

  "When I learned about community and being civically engaged, that became my everything… I started passing out flyers and telling people 'get out and vote' on election day. Something about that made me feel really good about myself, and it made me want to be a better young person."

McIver on what it feels like to be prosecuted by Trump DOJ

• "Just the stress of knowing that these people, a Stephen Miller, a Donald Trump, a Todd Blanche, would want nothing more but to see me in handcuffs, serving time. That would delight them… It saddens me to know that I'm someone who has done nothing wrong, right? I showed up to do my job and these people want to put me behind bars."

McIver Black women standing in the gaps

• "I'm a Black woman who came to [Delaney Hall] to express the power- not the power that I gave myself, but the power that the people of the 10th congressional district of New Jersey gave me- and do oversight.

  [...]

  "Black women have always stood in the gaps. I'm standing on the shoulders of many who stood in the gaps for many different issues… I had to stand in the gap on behalf of my constituents and immigrants who are being detained … My duty is to stand up for people and to protect them, and I would do it on any issue, on all issues, because that is what I am here for."

McIver on finding strength in her community

• "The people I represent- they have been so strong. Everywhere I go, they have lifted me up, given me a hug. People don't understand how lifting that is, to say 'we've got your back. You call us, you rally the call, and we're there.'"

McIver on her fight for good

• "I think about my journey all together… what I want to leave behind. What is my legacy of all of this? I want to be known as someone who fought for things that were right for people on all fronts… I want [my children] to know that their mom was a fighter for good.

  [...]

  "I knew when I was [growing] up I wanted the best for people, no matter where they are. That is why I do what I do. And I am going to continue doing that until there is no more breath in my body."

Listen to the full episode here.

Last week, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals refused to dismiss McIver's case. McIver and her legal team are currently exploring all options for moving the case forward. McIver is running for re-election and is eight months pregnant. For additional information on the upcoming developments in McIver's case, please contact [email protected].

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