New York Dem accused of ‘staged' arrest after being released by federal authorities within hours
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a Democrat, has been released after being held for only a few hours for allegedly assaulting an immigration official on Tuesday.
While Lander, who is running for mayor of New York City, is now being held up as a hero by many progressives, some say his arrest was more political theater than activism.
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."
"Election day is a week from today, and early voting has begun. Make no mistake, the purpose was to get the headlines that he's getting," said Borelli. "It's instant name recognition and establishing even stronger liberal bona fides."
Ice Breakout In New Jersey Symptom Of Democratic 'Chaos' Across The Country, Local Gop Leader Says
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Borelli likened Lander's arrest to the recent arrest of Newark Democrat Mayor Ras Baraka and the detaining of Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., who were both detained for allegedly disrupting different federal events.
Read On The Fox News App
"This is the playbook for lefty politicians who want to make a get-a-headline. They try to get arrested, they get arrested and then fake outrage over getting arrested," he said.
He went on to say that Lander's arrest was part of a "coordinated plan" that "not only benefits Brad Lander but also Zohran Mamdani, who he has cross-endorsed."
New York City works on a ranked choice voting system, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference and select multiple candidates.
Dem Senators Propose Bill To Punish El Salvador For 'Collusion' With Trump
"So any momentum Brad gets helps that left-leaning faction led by Zohran at the expense of Cuomo," explained Borelli, adding that "the real loser is the taxpayers."
Lander was arrested by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a federal officer.
Video footage of Lander's arrest appeared to show him hanging onto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they escorted a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, repeatedly asking officials if they had a judicial warrant.
"I will let go when you show me the judicial warrant," Lander said in the video. "Where is it? Where is the warrant?"
Hours later, Lander walked out of the federal courthouse where he was being held. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a news conference outside the courthouse that the charges against Lander had been dropped, though the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said it is "continuing to investigate" Lander's actions.
In response to the incident, a DHS spokesperson said, "Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them—it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment."
"No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences," said the spokesperson.
Doj Sues New York For Sanctuary Policy 'Undermining Immigration Enforcement'
Speaking after his release on Tuesday, Lander said, "I'm grateful to hear that the charges are not being brought. But if they are, I've got a lawyer. I don't have to worry about my due process rights."
Lander accused the Trump administration of "stripping" illegal immigrants of their due process rights.
During the press conference outside the federal building, Lander said: "This is a critical time to have a mayor who will stand up to ICE and stand up to Donald Trump and insist on due process and the laws of this city. This is a sanctuary city. I was proud to cosponsor those laws. And I'm going to show up and defend them."
He thanked the several other New York City Democratic mayoral candidates who protested his arrest and took aim at former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is the leading candidate for New York City mayor, saying, "New Yorkers deserve better in a mayor than Andrew Cuomo."
Watch: Aoc Blames Trump For La Riots, Says His Administration 'Owns This'
"I am very grateful to the other mayoral candidates who came out here to call for my release … and I really hope New Yorkers will elect one of us," said Lander.
New York Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt responded to the incident by telling Fox News Digital that "anyone who obstructs or assaults law enforcement officials – including attention-hungry politicians – deserves to be arrested."
William O'Reilly, a New York Republican political consultant, also chimed in, telling Fox News Digital that he believes "Lander is just the latest idiotic New York City progressive getting arrested for supporting lawbreakers."
"More than half of the Democratic mayoral field is running on a platform of defying U.S. immigration law. That's all responsible voters should need to know," said O'Reilly.
Lander's office and campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Original article source: New York Dem accused of 'staged' arrest after being released by federal authorities within hours
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Fox News
Diddy's defense team signals shift in trial strategy as prosecutors wrap up: expert
Prosecutors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial indicated Tuesday they'd rest their case before the end of the week, nearly six weeks after the trial began. The rapper's legal team recently told Judge Arun Subramanian it will need between two and five days to present its case, a stark contrast to its initial request of up to two weeks with witnesses on the stand. A change in timelines for the defense may signify Diddy's lawyers found "some weaknesses" in the government's case, according to New York-based attorney Nicole Brenecki. "The defense can change the amount of time allocated for their presentation of the case," Brenecki told Fox News Digital. "This current change is likely based on the defense's observation of some weaknesses in the prosecution's case. We have to keep in mind that the burden of proof rests on the prosecution. "Given that the jurors can see the case as mostly based on testimony by disgruntled ex-girlfriends and ex-employees, they may not be inclined to convict Diddy of essentially forming a criminal enterprise to commit crimes across state lines, which is a summary of the definitions of the crimes he is accused of. "Criminal court, as opposed to the court of public opinion, requires a strict application of the facts to the definition of the crime, and the prosecution may lose if the jury disagrees with them as to this application." In a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17, Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. "The defense does not have to put on a case at all," New York-based Attorney David Schwartz told Fox News Digital. "It is up to the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, and the defendant gets every presumption of innocence. So, in many cases, the defense does not put on a case at all. "By putting on no case or a short case, the defense is emphasizing that the prosecution did not meet its burden. "The last thing you want to do as a defense attorney is to shift the burden by putting on a long case. The burden never shifts, but the longer the case the defense puts on, the more juries forget about the burden, which is bad." Los Angeles litigator John J. Perlstein noted that the time line of two to five days requested by the defense is nothing uncommon. "Two to five days is the usual amount of trial time the defense needs in criminal cases, and I suspect it will be closer to two in this case," Perlstein told Fox News Digital. "The defense will typically overestimate the time needed to account for witness availability and/or the examination of new evidence. "Given the complexity of the case and its media attention, it is likely the defense padded the time in order to account for any and all unknowns." In court Tuesday, the judge reprimanded lawyers for both sides for violating the court's sealing order by allegedly speaking to the media about the trial. He reminded the parties that the defense requested the gag order. Judge Subramanian added that a violation of that order could result in contempt charges. The jury was then seemingly shown videos of "freak offs" between Diddy, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a male escort. The screen for exhibits was shut off and the witness, Special Agent DeLeassa Penland, and the jurors were given headphones to watch some videos from Oct. 14, 2012. At one point, the sound from the videos was audible in the courtroom. The court fixed the problem by making sure headsets that were not in use were turned off and away from any mics. Diddy's defense lawyer, Teny Geragos, played several minutes of videos for the jury. Geragos then played clips of videos from December 2014. While the videos were being played, Diddy sat at the defense table, occasionally tapping his fingers on his legs. The clips were played for about 30 minutes. WATCH: SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN HOTEL HALLWAY During Penland's cross-examination, the jury was shown text messages between Cassie and Diddy about the "freak offs." There was a text message from Diddy to Cassie dated September 2014 asking what she wanted to do. Cassie then sent a screenshot of a message from a male escort named Keith, who they knew from the website Cowboys for Angels, asking if she was in town. Cassie wrote to Diddy, "I want to make love and drink wine…whatever makes my love happy." Combs responded, "Why did you show me the Keith thing?" She replied, "Because I never show you…" Diddy asked if she wanted to have a "freak off." In a later message, Diddy asked, "Wanna freak off for the last time?" Cassie responded, "I wanna freak-off for the rest of our lives." The "Last Night" rapper has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, in which witnesses have testified to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The trial is expected to wrap up by July 4.
CBS News
35 minutes ago
- CBS News
Marysville to rename Oak Street after fallen Officer Osmar Rodarte
In a tearful presentation by the mayor of Marysville, city leaders honored fallen Officer Osmar Rodarte with a proclamation to rename Oak Street after his sacrifice. Fellow officers, city leaders, community members and Rodarte's family poured into City Hall on Tuesday night for a proclamation to forever remember the man who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Mayor Chris Branscum said that Oak Street will be memorialized as Officer Osmar Rodarte Memorial Way. "We will be eternally grateful for his service and sacrifice, and whereas the same is true for his family, who have sacrificed alongside this heroic American," said Renick House, Yuba County supervisor. Rodarte was killed in March in the line of duty during a transnational drug trafficking bust in Olivehurst. He leaves behind his wife and young children. "The pain never goes away. We will forever honor your son, your husband, your father, your grandson," Mayor Branscum said. "I saw your son get his badge pinned on in this room." As the room remembered Rodarte, two more officers were sworn in to the Marysville Police Department. Rodarte's death in the line of duty was the first for the department in a hundred years. "We are all with you. Though Osmar Rodarte is gone, his spirit will live on in our hearts and he will be remembered as a true hero who gave his life on the line of duty," House said. Rodarte's family exchanged handshakes and hugs with city officials as they accepted the proclamation to rename Oak Street. "The City of Marysville wishes to honor and preserve the memory of Officer Rodarte's life, service and sacrifice," Mayor Branscum said. It's unclear exactly when new signage will be put in reflecting the name change, but the city says it will be soon.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Election Day in Georgia: See results for Public Service Commission primary races
Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols convincingly won his primary election Tuesday night, setting himself up to run against Democrat Alicia Johnson for another term. The Republican energy service regulator who presides over District 2 defeated Lee Muns, GOP challenger. With only two counties left to report Tuesday night, Echols held more than 76% of the vote. Johnson, who will be Echols' challenger in November, ran unopposed. While Echols won decisively, a three-candidate Democratic field in District 3 failed to yield a clear winner. Keisha Sean Waites, Peter Hubbard and Robert Jones all ran with the goal of securing the nomination and facing off against incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson in November. Waites led the field with more than 47% of the vote Tuesday night with 157 of 159 counties reporting, but with no candidate grabbing 50% of the ballots cast, the race appeared set for a runoff. Hubbard, who was second in the vote with 32%, also would make it into the runoff if results held. Daniel Blackman, a former EPA Region 4 administrator and previous PSC candidate, was also running in this district but was disqualified after a judge ruled he did not provide enough evidence that he lived in District 3 for at least 12 months, as required by commission rules. The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member panel of energy regulators which reviews proposals from electric companies such as Georgia Power. These proposals outline how much the company plans to charge customers for electricity and where the company will get its energy — whether from solar, natural gas, coal, batteries, hydropower, or other sources. Find results from the two contested PSC races below.
