New York politicians condemn city comptroller Brad Lander’s arrest as ‘fascism’ and ‘political intimidation’ – US politics live

Earlier we brought you reported comments from Kathy Hochul, now the New York governor has reiterated her view on X.

New York’s mayor, Eric Adams, who ran as a Democrat in 2021 and is seeking re-election as an independent candidate – and has been widely attacked by Democrats for his close relationship with Donald Trump – has so far yet to comment on the arrest of Brad Lander.

But his former chief of staff, Frank Carone, one of his top allies and advisers, has implied that it was a stunt, posting on X a photo of Lander being arrested with the caption: “Academy award goes to …”

His language echoes the statement from DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin who earlier told the Guardian: “It is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment.”

Former New York governor and controversial frontrunner in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary Andrew Cuomo has weighed in, calling Brad Lander’s arrest “the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s Ice out of control”.

Cuomo, who is seeking to rehabilitate his political career after leaving office amid sexual harassment allegations, wrote on X:

This is the latest example of the extreme thuggery of Trump’s ICE out of control — one can only imagine the fear families across our country feel when confronted with ICE. Fear of separation, fear of being taken from their schools, fear of being detained without just cause. This is not who we are. This must stop, and it must stop now.

In a second post, he added:

Make no mistake: this kind of conduct is the direct result of @ericadamsfornyc handing the keys of our great City over to Donald Trump.

New York City council speaker and mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams is at the gathering outside the federal building. She called Brad Lander’s arrest “disgusting”, adding:

What happened to your America? What happened to our America? This is disgusting. This is not law, this is lawlessness. This is what our country has devolved to under Donald Trump.

“It’s bullshit,” New York governor Kathy Hochul has been quoted as saying on the arrest of Brad Lander by federal agents today.

The governor said she will call him when he’s out of Ice detention, adding:

But what about all the people who don’t have that high profile position?

She added:

Brad Lander has been a guiding help, and this is what happens to him? What the hell is happening to this country?

New York attorney general Letitia James has condemned the arrest of NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander as “grotesque”, “profoundly unacceptable” and “a shocking abuse of power”.

This is profoundly unacceptable. Arresting Comptroller Lander for the simple act of standing up for immigrants and their civil rights is a shocking abuse of power. No one should face fear and intimidation in a courthouse, and this is a grotesque escalation of tensions. The administration’s rampant targeting of New Yorkers only makes our communities less safe.

A crowd of supporters were gathered at the corner of the federal immigration building chanting “free Brad lander” and “ICE out of the courts”. Protesters held up placards saying “fascist minion” and “immigrants are New York”.

The protesters were surrounded by a tight cordon of police and metal barricades. Public entrance to the building was closed despite it being a public building.

Among that gathering demanding Lander’s immediate release is fellow mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani who said on X: “Shame on Ice – and our disgraced mayor for his collaboration and silence.”

Brad Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette, has posted again from his X account to say that he is still in Ice custody. She says a gathering has formed in Federal Plaza.

On the arrest of New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Guardian Lander had been arrested for “assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer”.

McLaughlin said:

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.

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.

Here is the moment federal agents arrested the New York City comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander at a federal building in Manhattan.

He had spent the morning there observing immigration hearings and told an AP reporter he had intended to accompany some immigrants out of the building.

Footage of the arrest shows an agent telling Lander: “You’re obstructing.” Lander replies: “You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens asking for a judicial warrant” as he was led into an elevator.