Brad Lander found not guilty in NYC immigration court protest trial
The judge said prosecutors failed to prove Lander meant to block the elevators during a protest at the Manhattan federal building.
- On Thursday, Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo acquitted Democratic candidate Brad Lander of misdemeanor obstruction charges following a one-day trial regarding a protest at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan.
- Prosecutors argued Lander obstructed an elevator on the 10th floor for 20 to 25 minutes on Sept. 18, 2025, but Ricardo ruled the government failed to prove he intended to obstruct.
- Defending his actions, Lander testified he had no intention of disrupting traffic in the building housing 40 federal agencies including the FBI; he rejected a plea deal that would have dismissed the charge in six months.
- Outside the courthouse, Lander, who is challenging Rep. Dan Goldman, said he felt "genuinely moved by the rule of law," while prosecutors declined comment Thursday.
- The acquittal follows Lander's June 2025 arrest at a New York City immigration court where charges were never filed; the former comptroller and ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced jeopardy during immigration protests before.
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39 Articles
Associated Press News
Judge acquits Democratic congressional candidate arrested at New York immigration court protest
A federal magistrate judge has acquitted Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander on a misdemeanor obstruction charge stemming from a protest at a New York City federal building last September.
Judge acquits congressional candidate arrested at New York immigration court protest
A federal magistrate judge has acquitted Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander on a misdemeanor obstruction charge stemming from a protest at a New York City federal building last September
Brad Lander found not guilty of charges in NYC immigration detention center incident
A New York judge ruled Thursday that congressional hopeful Brad Lander is not guilty of misdemeanor charges against him related to a September inspection attempt at an immigration holding facility in Manhattan.“In a loss for the fascists, a federal judge ruled that Brad Lander is NOT guilty in the trial resulting from his arrest by ICE last year at 26 Federal Plaza,” Lander wrote in a social media statement.
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