The prominent Democratic contender running to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan) has been vocal in denouncing ICE during his campaign, yet his spouse seems to be earning substantial amounts from firms closely tied to ICE, according to available records.
Mika Lasher, a congressman from the Upper East Side and a former aide to Nadler, has openly advocated for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, labeling it an “irreparable agency.” He has organized protests against major companies like Amazon and Home Depot, claiming these corporations profit from ICE’s actions.
In a bid to appeal to voters in his liberal constituency, he has targeted his opponent, East Side Rep. Alex Boas, emphasizing Boas’s previous role as a principal at Palantir Technologies, a significant contractor for ICE.
However, Lasher’s wife, Elizabeth Mann, has reportedly benefited financially from contracts associated with ICE, receiving considerable payments from Donald Trump’s administration and its enforcement initiatives.
Mann has garnered $578,111 from Motorola Solutions since joining the company’s board in August 2024, during which Motorola has secured over $21 million in contracts with ICE for surveillance technology and related services.
Additionally, since becoming the chief financial officer of Verisk Analytics in July 2022, Mann has accrued nearly another $17 million in salaries, stock options, and other forms of compensation from that firm, which is known to maintain a comprehensive health and auto insurance database used in tracking individuals who might face deportation.
“It’s hard not to notice the contradiction here. This is a candidate making bold statements about policy,” remarked a New York City Democratic Party official. “Which candidate do you think will actually get elected? It’s a bit up in the air right now.”
Another party member bluntly called Lasher a hypocrite.
Lasher and Boas are part of a competitive Democratic primary for Manhattan’s 12th Congressional District, which encompasses areas like Midtown and the Upper East Side.
Other notable candidates include Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, and George Conway, a past Republican attorney known for his criticism of President Trump.
As for Boas, he hasn’t publicly returned inquiries for comments on this situation.
“I don’t know a lot about Mika or Motorola,” Schlossberg acknowledged.
He then added, “But I can assure you, no one controls me.”
Lasher, whose key backers include Nadler and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, defended his wife’s accomplishments, stating she has achieved success with notable integrity. “I will keep fighting against ICE both here in Albany and in Washington. Meanwhile, my competitors are resorting to unfounded allegations about my wife,” he remarked.
