New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by DHS agents on June 17, 2025. (Brad Lander/X)
The video shows federal officials eventually separate Lander from the immigrant whom the officials were targeting, and they proceed to handcuff Lander. He can be heard repeatedly insisting they do not have the authority to arrest him. One agent seemed to say that he was obstructing an arrest, to which he replied, "I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant."
Hours later, Lander walked out of the federal courthouse where he was being held alongside New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. During a news conference outside the courthouse, Hochul said that charges against Lander had been dropped, though the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said it was "continuing to investigate" Lander's actions.
"The safety and security of official proceedings, government officials, law enforcement officers, and all members of the public who participate in them is a core focus of our Office," said Nick Biase, chief of public affairs for the U.S. Attorney's Office. "The Department of Justice will prosecute violations of federal law."
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Then New York City mayoral candidate Brad Lander and the now-Democratic mayoral nominee Zorhan Mamdani appeared on "The Late Show" on the eve of the Democratic rank-choice primary. (Screenshot/CBS)
"We won’t stand for it in this administration," said McLaughlin. "If you lay hands on an officer or impede their enforcement action, you will be arrested as just as we saw here."
Weeks later, as New York City released its ranked choice election results, representatives for the Department of Justice declined to say whether the agency was still investigating the incident or whether it was considering charges against Lander.
The DOJ has similarly declined to comment on whether it will file charges against Padilla, who was temporarily detained after interrupting a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on June 12.
DOJ DIRECTS US ATTORNEYS TO SEEK TO REVOKE CITIZENSHIP OF NATURALIZED AMERICANS OVER CRIME
Sen. Alex Padilla is pushed out of the room as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Padilla was pushed out of the room by the Secret Service and briefly arrested after trying to ask the secretary a question in the middle of her remarks.
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A DOJ spokesperson replied via email to Fox News Digital’s inquiry about Padilla, saying, "No comment here."
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-silent-whether-nyc-politician-who-allegedly-assaulted-ice-officer-face-charges