Mayor Eric Adams (left) and metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander.
Pictures by Lloyd Mitchell
Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday provided few condolences to metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander following his arrest Tuesday by the hands of federal immigration authorities, as an alternative evaluating the episode to his now-dismissed federal corruption case.
Throughout a June 18 interview on the Reset Speak Present, Adams declined to hitch different Democrats in bashing ICE’s actions towards Lander and immigrants, as an alternative looking for to rebuff criticisms that he has largely stood silent throughout a dramatic escalation in Trump’s mass deportation effort.
Adams informed the host, JR Gittens, he doesn’t should be arrested to point out he’s standing up for immigrants as a result of, in his view, he was already hit with federal prices for doing precisely that.
“If people are saying, ‘Eric, go get arrested like Brad Lander,’ to show your outrage, I was arrested when I stood up and fought for migrants and asylum seekers,” Adams mentioned, repeating his unfounded declare that federal prosecutors went after him for publicly criticizing former President Biden’s immigration insurance policies.
Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested and accosted by masked federal brokers at immigration court docket in Decrease Manhattan.Photograph by Dean Moses
A number of mayoral candidates got here to Lander’s protection on Tuesday by releasing forceful statements framing his arrest as a part of an authoritarian “abuse of power,” however Adams as an alternative appeared to position the blame on the comptroller.
“I think it was more politics instead of protecting people,” he mentioned Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate that he took that action, because that is not the role of the elected official, what he did today.”
New York News reached out to Lander for remark and is awaiting a response.
Two totally different arrests
Lander was detained on June 17 federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers inside 26 Federal Plaza, a Decrease Manhattan constructing that homes immigration courts. He was later launched with out prices early Tuesday night after Gov. Kathy Hochul personally intervened and spoke to a crowd of a whole bunch who gathered in Foley Sq. to protest his arrest.
The town’s prime cash man, who’s operating within the Democratic major for mayor, was arrested whereas escorting an immigrant named Edgardo out of court docket after his case was dismissed to be able to keep away from him being detained by ICE brokers ready within the hallway.
Mayor Eric Adams surrendered at federal court docket on Sept. 27, 2024.Photograph by Dean Moses
Final 12 months, Mayor Adams was indicted on federal prices which alleged that he accepted lavish journey advantages and unlawful marketing campaign donations from Turkish naationals in change for official favors — a case the feds had opened in 2021, earlier than migrants began flowing to town in droves.
The case, nonetheless, was dismissed earlier this 12 months after prosecutors, on the Trump Justice Division’s path, moved to drop it as a result of they felt it could intervene with Adams’ cooperation with the brand new regime’s immigration crackdown. That led to accusations of an alleged quid professional quo between Adams and Trump, which the mayor has repeatedly denied underneath oath.
Nonetheless, Adams maintained that he believes he was prosecuted within the first place as a result of he was vital of the Biden administration’s dealing with of the migrant disaster between 2022-24.
“That’s why they came at me in the first place,” Adams mentioned on the Reset Speak Present. “I know what it is to be arrested for standing up and fighting on behalf of migrant asylum seekers. Trust me, every time I look at the $3 million legal fee that I have, I know what it is to get arrested by federal authorities because you’re fighting to say it’s wrong what you were doing to migrants and asylum seekers. So they just joining the club. They’re late to the dance. I was already dancing.”
Hizzoner was referring to the thousands and thousands of {dollars} in authorized charges he racked up paying movie star legal professional Alex Spiro to defend him within the federal case.
The mayor additionally contended that Lander was “pretty harmful to me” when he was dealing with federal prices. He mentioned he wouldn’t deal with the comptroller the identical manner and can “let the process take its course.”
Whereas the 2 prime metropolis officers have had a contentious relationship for a lot of the previous three years, Adams’ feedback on Wednesday confirmed simply how a lot it has deteriorated. His remarks additionally converse to his continued reluctance to criticize Trump, particularly on immigration coverage.
