House Democrats—with unexpected help from a handful of Republicans—blocked a GOP effort Wednesday to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey and to boot her from the Homeland Security Committee.

The push came after GOP Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana introduced a privileged resolution Tuesday, forcing a quick vote. Higgins argued that it’s a “significant conflict of interest” for McIver to serve on a committee overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement while she faces federal charges related to an altercation with immigration officers.

With Republicans holding a razor-thin majority in the House, the measure had a real shot at passing—a move that would’ve further squeezed McIver ahead of her November trial on charges that carry sentences of up to eight years. But in a sur

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