{"id":2613461,"date":"2026-06-11T17:22:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T21:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brad-lander-acquitted-of-criminal-charge-over-protest-at-immigration-court\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T17:22:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T21:22:14","slug":"brad-lander-acquitted-of-criminal-charge-over-protest-at-immigration-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brad-lander-acquitted-of-criminal-charge-over-protest-at-immigration-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Brad Lander acquitted of criminal charge over protest at immigration court"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbrad-lander-acquitted-of-criminal-charge-over-protest-at-immigration-court%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2613461&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal judge decided on Thursday to acquit former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york-city\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"286\">New York City<\/a> Comptroller Brad Lander of a federal misdemeanor charge filed over his involvement in an anti-ICE <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/protests\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"77\">protest<\/a> at a Manhattan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/immigration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8775\">immigration<\/a> court last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo declared the defendant, who was accused of obstructing an elevator and federal law enforcement at the Federal Plaza Immigration Court in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"61\">New York<\/a>, not guilty.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4602240\/democratic-establishment-mcduffie-dc-mayor-union-lewis-george\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democratic establishment backs McDuffie for DC mayor, while unions bolster Lewis George<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4602344\/washington-post-scrutiny-trump-tone-shift\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>From resistance to reset? Washington Post faces scrutiny over Trump tone shift: Guy Benson<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4600248\/nrsc-refers-challenger-dan-sullivan-fec-campaign-scheme-oust-senator-same-name\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NRSC refers challenger Dan Sullivan to FEC over campaign \u2018scheme\u2019 to oust senator with same name<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In September, Lander and about a dozen other politicians protested <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>. The agency had been holding detainees at its office inside the courthouse building. Lander was present to inspect the cells in which ICE officers were keeping immigrants. He was one of 11 elected officials arrested.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The incident was separate from a June 2025 protest at the same immigration court building, where Lander was briefly arrested after he linked arms with an immigrant whom ICE officers sought to detain. He was eventually released without charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, Lander served as New York City\u2019s comptroller and was running for mayor. He is now running in the June 23 Democratic primary for New York\u2019s 10th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-goldman\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"6276\">Dan Goldman<\/a> (D-NY). Goldman is seeking reelection for a third term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ricardo\u2019s verdict came after a one-day bench trial on Wednesday. After rejecting a plea deal, Lander personally requested a trial to see additional information on the immigration enforcement tactics that he sought to challenge through discovery in court.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll 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,\u201d he said after the ruling. \u201cThat\u2019s why I took this case to trial, and that\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lander also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bradlander\/status\/2065090016125071567\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bradlander\/status\/2065090016125071567\">celebrated<\/a> the not-guilty verdict on social media, calling his win \u201ca loss for the fascists.\u201d Later Thursday, the congressional candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bradlander\/status\/2065157053270597961\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bradlander\/status\/2065157053270597961\">turned his attention<\/a> toward early voting, which starts this Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11802\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a>, along with Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA), all of whom are strong progressives in the Democratic Party, have endorsed Lander for Congress. Meanwhile, Goldman is backed by establishment figures, such as Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kathy-hochul\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3278\">Kathy Hochul<\/a> (D-NY).<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mamdani and Lander have recently been publicly associating themselves with each other as the primary election nears. Last week, they starred together in a basketball-themed campaign advertisement ahead of the New York Knicks\u2019 appearance in the NBA Finals, encouraging voter turnout for several progressive allies of the mayor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4594742\/mamdani-progressive-allies-basketball-campaign-ad\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4594742\/mamdani-progressive-allies-basketball-campaign-ad\/\">MAMDANI TEAMS UP WITH PROGRESSIVE ALLIES FOR BASKETBALL-THEMED CAMPAIGN AD AHEAD OF KNICKS GAME<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lander dedicated a portion of his pre-verdict comments to reporters talking about the tight 107-106 Knicks victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was so worried about the Knicks last night that it\u2019s hard to worry about what happens in here,\u201d he said jokingly. \u201cThat was incredible. I was so anxious. My God, what a great win, what a great team, what a great city. And I had a great legal team as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A federal judge decided on Thursday to acquit former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander of a federal misdemeanor charge filed over his involvement in an anti-ICE protest at a Manhattan immigration court last year. U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Ricardo declared the defendant, who was accused of obstructing an elevator and federal law enforcement at<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2613462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26162530662011.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2613461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26162530662011.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613461\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2613462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}