Big Apple Dem accused of seeking ‘viral moment’ with ‘staged’ arrest days before election
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a Democrat, made headlines recently after being arrested for allegedly assaulting an immigration official. Lander, who is running for mayor of New York City, was held for only a few hours before being released. While some progressives are hailing him as a hero, others believe that his arrest was simply a political stunt.
Joe Borelli, a former New York City councilman and GOP political operative, told Fox News Digital that he believes Lander’s arrest was a “staged event” to garner attention and boost his campaign. Borelli compared Lander’s arrest to similar incidents involving other left-leaning politicians, suggesting that it was part of a coordinated plan to generate headlines and gain liberal support.
Ranked choice voting in New York City allows voters to select multiple candidates in order of preference. Borelli suggested that Lander’s arrest could benefit not only himself but also Zohran Mamdani, another left-leaning candidate he has cross-endorsed. This, according to Borelli, could potentially hurt other candidates, like Andrew Cuomo, who is currently leading in the mayoral race.
Lander was arrested by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents after allegedly assaulting a federal officer during an immigration court proceeding. Video footage of the incident showed Lander questioning the agents about a judicial warrant while they attempted to escort a defendant out of the court.
Despite being released and having the charges against him dropped, Lander maintained his stance on due process rights for immigrants. He accused the Trump administration of stripping illegal immigrants of their rights and emphasized the importance of standing up to ICE and defending sanctuary city laws.
Following his release, Lander thanked his fellow Democratic mayoral candidates for their support and called for a mayor who will stand up to ICE and uphold the laws of the city. He also took a swipe at Andrew Cuomo, criticizing him as a mayoral candidate.
New York Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt condemned the incident, stating that anyone who obstructs or assaults law enforcement officials, including politicians, deserves to be arrested. Republican political consultant William O’Reilly echoed this sentiment, calling out Lander and other progressive politicians for supporting lawbreakers.
While Lander’s office and campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the incident has sparked debate among political circles. Whether Lander’s arrest was a genuine act of activism or a political stunt remains a subject of contention. As the mayoral race in New York City heats up, the fallout from this incident could have lasting implications for the candidates involved.
