NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is also a NYC mayoral candidate, was arrested by ICE agents Tuesday in a frenetic scene outside a federal immigration court.

Video footage showed agents arresting Lander and taking him away in handcuffs.

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Per Gothamist:

Lander campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec told Gothamist the comptroller was arrested while escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza.

Another video of the incident, which was provided by Chloe Chik, a spokesperson for the comptroller’s office, shows Lander being handcuffed against a wall and led into the elevator.

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“I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway,” he says in the video. “I asked to see the judicial warrant. You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant.”

Chik told Gothamist that Lander was still being held at Federal Plaza as of early Tuesday afternoon.

“Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them—it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment,” a DHS spokesperson said, according to Fox News.

“No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,” the spokesperson added.

It’s unclear if Lander will face charges.

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“Brad is still in ICE custody. We are grateful to the many friends, supporters, and allies who have gathered in Federal Plaza. Together we are standing up for those with no voice,” Meg Barnette, Lander’s wife, later said from his X account.

From the New York Post:

Sources told The Post that Lander was arrested on an obstruction of governmental administration charge.

Lander, who is running for the Democratic mayoral nomination, had been at the federal court to observe immigration proceedings after President Trump’s recent call for ICE to target New York City.

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“While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad Lander was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE,” said Lander spokesperson Dora Pekec. “This is still developing and we are monitoring the situation closely.”

 

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