Last updated: June 12, 2026. Brad Landera Democratic congressional candidate and former New York City comptroller, was found not guilty after a one-day bench trial in Manhattan federal courtending a case that stemmed from his September 18, 2026 arrest at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. The charge alleged he obstructed an elevator during an immigration protest in the federal building that houses an immigration court and other agencies.
The outcome mattered for both the ongoing primary campaign and the broader debate over immigration protests and civil disobedience inside federal facilities. The magistrate judge concluded prosecutors had not proved that Lander intended to impede operations, a finding that underscored the boundary between protected demonstration and unlawful interference. Lander said he was grateful for the rule of law and contrasted his experience with what he described as the limited legal protections available to immigrants in detention.
Judge Henry J. Ricardo’s ruling and trial focus
U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo delivered the acquittal after reviewing testimony and video of the brief sit-in. Prosecutors argued Lander was seated in front of an elevator for approximately 20 to 25 minutes and that the doors did not open during that span, amounting to obstruction of the elevator lobby’s usual use. The bench trial centered on whether his conduct met the legal threshold for unreasonable interference, including any refusal to comply with law enforcement directives.
The judge found the government failed to prove intent to obstruct or noncompliance with officers. Lander testified he had no intention of blocking elevator traffic and was not told to move before being arrested. “I feel genuinely moved by the rule of law,” he said outside court, adding that it is “a blessing” to live where people can challenge charges. He had earlier rejected a plea offer that would have led to the misdemeanor’s dismissal after six months, opting instead to proceed to trial and seek a full acquittal.
What happened inside 26 Federal Plaza
The incident began as Lander and other elected officials attempted to inspect holding rooms in the federal complex at 26 Federal Plazawhich houses an immigration court, the FBI and multiple federal offices. The group sat in a circle near an elevator bank and chanted “We shall not be moved,” asserting support for immigrants being held in city facilities. Lander said no officer asked him to step aside before he was taken into custody, and he emphasized the protest’s message: “We’re here for our immigrant neighbors and we’re not going to stop showing up and defending their rights.”
The protest followed a federal judge’s order directing the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve conditions for people in immigration detention in the city. Federal prosecutors later contended that Lander had obstructed the elevator by remaining seated at the threshold for more than 20 minutes. The court’s finding indicated the evidence did not establish the required intent or an overt refusal to follow law enforcement commands in the confined lobby space.
Earlier June 2026 custody and political stakes
Months before the Federal Plaza arrest, Lander was taken into custody during a June 2026 action at an immigration court in Manhattan, where he linked arms with an individual authorities were trying to detain. In that incident, no charges were ultimately filed. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security accused him of assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer during a June 2026 encounter; Lander denied those allegations upon release. The episodes reflected a long-running pattern of activism focused on immigrant rights.
Lander, formerly the city’s comptroller and an ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is challenging U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary for a liberal district that includes lower Manhattan and parts of brownstone Brooklyn. The acquittal removes an immediate legal cloud as he continues his campaign. In remarks after the verdict, he contrasted his access to legal counsel with that of immigrants facing removal, saying the “blessing” of the rule of law is “being utterly denied to our immigrant neighbors by Trump and ICE,” a theme that has animated his public statements around detention conditions.