Brad Lander found not guilty after Federal Plaza arrest tied to ICE protest

Updated 1 hour ago
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was found not guilty of obstructing the elevators and elevator lobby while protesting in support of detained immigrants at 26 Federal Plaza last September.

He had pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges so he could question ICE operations under oath.

Lander was among a group of officials taken into custody in September 2025 while demanding access to detention cells.

He refused a plea deal and opted for a bench trial instead.

"I feel genuinely moved today by the rule of law - by the excellent legal counsel I had, by the thoughtful consideration by the judge, and by the simple knowledge that I could enter and leave the court safely. It's a blessing we don't always appreciate, and one that is being utterly denied to our immigrant neighbors by Trump and ICE," Lander said. "All we want at 26 Federal Plaza is for everybody facing removal proceedings by our government to have the same access to the rule of law as I had in this trial. That's why I took this case to trial, and that's why, whatever happens on June 23rd, I will keep showing up to protect our immigrant neighbors and insist that the rule of law apply to everyone."



The trial came ahead of primary Election Day later this month.

Lander is challenging incumbent Representative Dan Goldman for New York's 10th congressional district.



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