In a rare show of cross-party unity, some House Republicans aligned with all Democrats to thwart a move to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who was implicated in a tumultuous incident at a Newark immigration detention center in May. The resolution, pushed by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), aimed to formally reprimand McIver and strip her of her position on the House Homeland Security Committee.

Five Republican Representatives — Don Bacon and Mike Flood from Nebraska, Dave Joyce and Mike Turner from Ohio, and David Valadao from California — voted alongside Democrats to table the measure. Additionally, Republicans Andrew Garbarino of New York and Nathaniel Moran of Texas chose to vote 'present', abstaining from a direct stance.

Rep. Don Bacon voiced a preference for procedural patience, stating, "I think it's best to let Ethics Committee finish its report," signaling a desire for a thorough investigation rather than immediate punitive action. A spokesperson for Rep. Turner clarified his vote to halt the censure was accidental, though it ultimately did not affect the outcome.

The controversy stems from an incident this past May, where McIver alongside other Democratic officials, including Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, were conducting an oversight visit at the facility. The visit coincided with the controversial arrest of Newark's mayor by federal agents, a charge later dropped, though it triggered a cascade of events leading to McIver’s own indictment on charges related to physical altercations with federal agents.

McIver’s defense argued that the actions of the federal agents were disproportionate, leading to an escalation that resulted in the scuffle. The charges against McIver could carry a maximum sentence of 17 years if convicted.

The failed censure vote against McIver has spurred retaliatory measures within the House, with Democrats threatening to push forward a resolution to censure Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) over separate ethics allegations. This political maneuvering underscores the heightened tensions and the increasingly retaliatory nature of House proceedings.

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), who introduced the resolution against Mills, remarked on the next steps: "I'm going to have some conversations with my colleagues, with Ms. McIver in particular, and some of our leadership, and we'll make that determination."

As the political fallout continues, the House remains a battleground for partisan and inter-party conflicts, with ethics and conduct at the center of ongoing debates.