(NewsNation) — Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and a Democratic candidate for mayor, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Tuesday as he was attempting to accompany a person out of immigration court.
Lander was in court observing immigration hearings and told The Associated Press that he was there to accompany people out of the courthouse.
Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette, told reporters at a news conference that her husband tried to link arms with a person as that person left the courtroom when he was swarmed by federal agents.
“They said, ‘You’re obstructing,’” Barnette said at the news conference. “I was shoved out of the way.”
“What I saw was shocking and unacceptable,” she added. “What I saw today was not the rule of law.”
In a statement provided to NewsNation, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that Lander was arrested for blockaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.
“It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement to get a viral moment,” McLaughlin said. “No one is above the law and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will find consequences.”
A spokesperson for Lander told NewsNation on Tuesday that they did not have a comment on the Department of Homeland Security statement on X, which referenced a 2024 Lander tweet that read, “No one is above the law.”
However, the spokeperson referred NewsNation the video of Lander’s arrest, which “speaks for itself.”
“The person who Lander was linked arm and arm with while attempting to walk out of the courtroom was also detained after being acquitted in court today,” the spokesperson said.
When asked what the person was acquitted of, the spokesperson said that they were not sure, but that more information was coming.
New York Attorney General Letitia James called Lander’s arrest “a shocking abuse of power”, adding, “No one should face fear and intimidation in a courthouse, and this administration’s continued rampant targeting of New Yorkers makes our communities less safe.”
In a social media post, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called Lander’s arrest “bulls–t.”
The Associated Press reported that in the moments before Lander was arrested, agents could be seen trying to separate him from the person that agents were reportedly present to take into custody. One of the agents who ***ed Lander away was dressed in a uniform that read, “federal agent,” while others were dressed in plain clothes and wore surgical masks.
“I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway,” Lander said as he was being handcuffed, video of the arrest shows.
“You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,” Lander said as he was led away down a hallway and into an elevator by federal agents.
Shortly after the incident, Barnette wrote on X that her husband remains in ICE custody and that “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 voices.”
Michael Blake, a fellow mayoral candidate in the New York primary election and former New York Assemblyman, called Lander’s arrest “absolutely inhumane and unconstitutional.”
Blake said that the video of the arrest shows Lander asking agents for a warrant and said that the city comptroller was doing his job in trying to protect someone when he was taken into custody.”
“We will not stand and tolerate this,” Blake told NewsNation, adding, “It’s just absolutely wrong in every possible manner … we are saying very clearly that we are done …and we’re not going to tolerate this any longer.”
This is a developing story. NewsNation will update the story as more information becomes available.
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