Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander on Friday pleaded not responsible to a violation stemming from a protest in opposition to the circumstances migrants are being held in at 26 Federal Plaza — and later spoke about the opportunity of hitting the marketing campaign path in addition to the courtroom within the new 12 months.
At his Manhattan Federal Courtroom arraignment, the outgoing comptroller was launched on his personal recognizance by Justice of the Peace Decide Henry Ricardo, who warned him to not break any federal, state, or native legal guidelines whereas the case is pending.
“I will drive very much under the speed limit, your honor,” quipped Lander, who has an admittedly poor rushing document.
The comptroller final month declined a suggestion from the Manhattan U.S. lawyer’s workplace that might have led to the misdemeanor cost in opposition to him being dismissed in six months if he averted arrest on federal property.
The violation accuses him of unreasonably obstructing “the usual use” of the elevator financial institution space, the place he was arrested by cops for the Division of Homeland Safety alongside ten elected officers on Sept. 18.
The group sat on the constructing’s nonpublic tenth flooring in an act of protest, demanding entry to the holding cell areas the place asylum seekers have reported being handled poorly since President Trump’s return to the White Home. Everybody however Lander who was arrested accepted the deal supplied by prosecutors.
The comptroller, who was additionally arrested in June advocating for migrants on the decrease Manhattan facility, has stated he desires to go to trial to elicit proof about what Immigration and Customs Enforcement considers the “usual use” of the hidden tenth flooring space and to argue that ICE brokers are those violating the legislation.
The federal authorities has denied congressional and native lawmakers entry to the cells.
“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 door,” he stated exterior court docket Friday.
Trump administration officers have denied allegations in regards to the maintain cell space the place tons of of migrants have been detained after being ambushed by brokers making an attempt to go away the constructing after asylum hearings.
“I’m very seriously considering a run,” Lander stated.
“I haven’t made any final decisions yet. I mean, these are urgent times — when ICE agents are abducting our neighbors, and Donald Trump is stealing money from New York City’s bank account — and I think people are looking for leaders who will put their bodies on the line.”
