The jury trial involving former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander concluded in Manhattan on Wednesday. Lander was arrested last fall at the city’s immigration court, and the judge’s verdict is anticipated to be delivered Thursday morning.
Details of the Allegations Against Lander
Lander was apprehended alongside several other elected officials at 26 Federal Plaza while seeking access to the holding area on the 10th floor during incidents in June and September 2025. The charges stemming from the June event were subsequently dropped, but Lander opted to reject a plea agreement following his arrest on September 18, 2025, maintaining his not guilty plea.
Prosecutors contended that Lander caused a disturbance on federal property by allegedly blocking an elevator and disregarding multiple warnings to clear the area. They described his actions as “deliberate,” aimed at obstructing access to the elevator.
In defense of Lander, his legal team argued that he and the other officials intended only to inspect the conditions of the cells where ICE detainees were being held, asserting that they did not impede access or interfere with ICE personnel. They added that Lander was positioned against a wall and that the warning he received was brief, lasting about 30 seconds.
Testifying for the prosecution, a senior inspector general from the Federal Protective Service, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, indicated that he had observed the elevator doors open once or twice, but noted that a person inside did not exit.
During his testimony, Lander stated that he did not hear the elevator operating or anyone attempting to leave. He remarked that if he had heard the elevator doors, he would have moved aside. “We were banging on the door, trying to gain access. At one point, Commander Welsh from the Federal Protective Service told us that if we stayed clear of the door, we could remain as long as we wanted. We complied and sat on the ground awaiting further instructions,” Lander clarified following his court appearance. On that day, 71 individuals were taken into custody, which included two state senators and nine state representatives.
Lander’s Campaign for the 10th District House Seat
As the trial unfolds, Lander is actively campaigning to unseat Congressman Dan Goldman in New York’s 10th Congressional District. Both candidates have engaged in a competitive primary battle, particularly ahead of the June 23 election, which encompasses lower Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn. Recently, they have toned down their criticisms of each other and shifted their focus toward President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.
On June 1, Lander and Goldman were seen on opposite corners outside the federal building in lower Manhattan as the federal government initiated what is referred to as “Mega Master” immigration hearings. Both candidates expressed concerns that these sessions were being conducted to facilitate an increase in deportations.
“The mass deportation strategies pursued by Donald Trump and Stephen Miller continue to evolve, as they relentlessly seek to expel our community members through various means,” Lander commented. “On June 1, they introduced a new tactic, utilizing a grand agenda designed to expedite mass deportations, regardless of the legal framework.”
