City Comptroller Brad Lander pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of blocking ICE operations in an elevator bank at 26 Federal Plaza in a grandstanding play against the Trump administration.
Lander was hit with the charge — a class C federal misdemeanor — on September 18th, 2025, at the federal building on the 10th floor, where the immigration court is held.
“I pleaded not guilty to the charge, because 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,” Lander railed to reporters outside of New York’s Southern District federal court immediately following his arraignment.
The government opted to drop the possibility of Imprisonment against the lame-duck comptroller. William Farrington
The comptroller, who is wrapping up his tenure as the City’s CFO, faced up to 30 days in prison for his alleged crime – but the government stated Friday they would not seek incarceration.
Lander was arrested along with a slew of other lawmakers who opted to pause their cases for 6 to 12 months so as not to interfere with the legislative session. The lame-duck controller strayed from the pack and opted to pursue his charges immediately.
Lander was arrested on September 18th for impeding ICE operations at 26 Federal plaza AP
“We were not committing the crime that we were charged with and I think it’s critical to insist that we’re not going to allow 26 Federal to become normalized,” he said.
Lander reiterated his “very serious” consideration to run for New York’s 10th congressional district next year following the proceeding.
“Donald Trump is stealing from New York City’s bank account, I think people are looking for leaders who will put their bodies on the line,” he crowed.
The government will have two weeks to submit evidence for the trial which will likely take place in the spring of next year. Lander’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 22.