Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander acquitted of protest charges

Lander, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the Democratic primary, expressed gratitude for the judge's ruling and the legal process. He also drew a parallel to immigrants facing deportation, wishing they had similar access to legal representation and the courts.

Weeks after his arrest, Lander had rejected a plea deal that would have dismissed the misdemeanor obstruction charge in six months. This was not Lander's first encounter with legal jeopardy during an immigration protest; he was arrested in June 2025 at a Manhattan immigration court for linking arms with an individual authorities were attempting to detain, though charges were ultimately not filed.

Immigration policy has emerged as a flashpoint between Lander and Goldman, with Goldman criticizing Lander's approach and calling his actions "performative" and "self-promoting." Lander countered that his actions were not political, as he was not running for office at the time of his arrest, and were instead aimed at supporting "neighbors and the rule of law."