On Friday, City Comptroller Brad Lander entered a plea of not guilty in response to charges related to his participation in a protest against the treatment of migrants at 26 Federal Plaza. Following the court proceedings, Lander expressed his intentions to possibly engage in both legal and political battles in the upcoming year.
During his arraignment at Manhattan Federal Court, Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo released Lander on his own recognizance. The judge cautioned him against violating any laws while the legal matter remains unresolved. With his characteristic humor, Lander responded, “I will drive very much under the speed limit, your honor,” acknowledging his less-than-stellar driving record.
Last month, Lander turned down an offer from the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office. The proposal suggested that the misdemeanor charge could be dismissed after six months, provided he avoided arrest on federal property during that period. However, Lander chose to face the charges head-on.
The violation he faces alleges that he obstructed “the usual use” of an elevator bank area. The incident occurred when Lander, along with ten other elected officials, was arrested by the Department of Homeland Security police on September 18. The group protested on the building’s nonpublic 10th floor, seeking access to the holding cells where asylum seekers have reported experiencing poor conditions since President Trump resumed office. Unlike Lander, all other officials arrested during the protest accepted the prosecutors’ deal.
The violation accuses him of unreasonably obstructing “the usual use” of the elevator bank area, where he was arrested by cops for the Department of Homeland Security alongside ten elected officials on Sept. 18.
The group sat on the building’s nonpublic 10th floor in an act of protest, demanding access to the holding cell areas where asylum seekers have reported being treated poorly since President Trump’s return to the White House. Everyone but Lander who was arrested accepted the deal offered by prosecutors.
The comptroller, who was also arrested in June advocating for migrants at the lower Manhattan facility, has said he wants to go to trial to elicit evidence about what Immigration and Customs Enforcement considers the “usual use” of the hidden 10th floor area and to argue that ICE agents are the ones violating the law.
The federal government has denied congressional and local lawmakers access to the cells.
“The crime was not us sitting on the floor of the 10th-floor elevator lobby. The crime is what ICE agents are doing on the other side of the 10th-floor door,” he said outside court Friday.
Trump administration officials have denied allegations about the hold cell area where hundreds of migrants have been detained after being ambushed by agents trying to leave the building after asylum hearings.
Asked by the Daily News whether he’d decided to mount a challenge against Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman in New York’s 10th congressional district, the comptroller said he was still making up his mind.
“I’m very seriously considering a run,” Lander said.
“I haven’t made any final decisions yet. I mean, these are urgent times — when ICE agents are abducting our neighbors, and Donald Trump is stealing money from New York City’s bank account — and I think people are looking for leaders who will put their bodies on the line.”
