Former NYC comptroller acquitted of charge related to ICE inspection
by Danielle Haynes · UPIJune 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge acquitted former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander on a misdemeanor charge related to his arrest last year at the city's immigration court.
Lander, along with about a dozen other elected officials, was arrested Sept. 18 while attempting to inspect holding rooms for detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. He faced a single misdemeanor charge for blocking a bank of elevators on the 10th floor of the facility after refusing to leave the building.
He pleaded not guilty and requested a trial. Lander said he didn't intentionally block the elevators and would have moved had he been asked. He said he was at the building in his capacity as comptroller.
U.S. District Judge Henry Ricardo said video footage of the incident was consistent with Lander's testimony, and he acquitted him of the charge Thursday after a one-day bench trial, The Washington Post reported. Ricardo said the video showed that Lander appeared "tired and a bit resigned" and didn't appear to be intentionally blocking the elevators.
"No offense to Mr. Lander," the judge said, as quoted by Politico.