Brad Lander

Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller and current congressional candidate, has no criminal convictions. Public reporting regarding his record includes the following: In June 2026, a federal judge acquitted Lander of misdemeanor charges related to an incident at 26 Federal Plaza on September 18, 2025. Prosecutors had alleged he obstructed an elevator while protesting conditions at an immigration detention facility. Lander pleaded not guilty and rejected a plea deal that would have dismissed the charges after six months. In June 2025, Lander was arrested at an immigration court in Manhattan after attempting to escort a person away from immigration enforcement agents. Although a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson alleged he assaulted and impeded a federal officer, no formal charges were ever filed. Separately, media reports have noted that Lander accumulated $6,055 in traffic fines between 2013 and 2024, including violations for speeding in school zones. Additionally, while serving as comptroller, Lander faced criticism regarding his office's oversight of Bhrags Home Care, a non-profit later indicted for corruption involving migrant shelter contracts. Critics alleged he failed to audit the group despite public reports of misconduct, though Lander has defended his record by highlighting audits he conducted on other migrant-service vendors.