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New left-wing Rep.-elect Brad Lander (D-NY) broke with comrades in the Democratic Socialists of America, and his own staff, on his first day on the job — by speaking to The Post.
Some newly elected Democratic socialists were staging a quiet boycott of America’s favorite news outlet, but Lander bucked the ban right under the nose of his newly hired chief of staff, the incoming lower Manhattan/Northwest Brooklyn congressman told The Post.
Lander, 57, recounted the episode, which happened Monday as he attended orientation sessions, where new lawmakers get assigned office space and learn the basics of congressional life.
He agreed to give a brief video interview to The Post his first day on the Hill, telling viewers that he was backing Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for House speaker and calling for a “unified party.” He also gave a few early impressions of Congress — like sharing a bus ride with newly elected socialist Donavan McKinney of Detroit.
Rather than keep his Post encounter under wraps, Lander promptly spilled the beans to socialist Rep.-elect Claire Valdez (D-NY) — who wants to “break the US-Israel relationship” — and several other congressional chiefs of staff.
“I just talked to the Post reporters. They’re here doing the little videos,” he told the group.
The news apparently didn’t go over well with his own team, which sent out an alert warning colleagues off America’s oldest continuously published daily paper, founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1801.
“That’s so funny because your chief just sent around an email telling us all to avoid The Post,” one new chief from the New York delegation responded.
“There I was breaking the boycott on my first day!” Lander quipped.
He didn’t specify which office squealed about the socialist boycott, which his own chief, Laura Hatalsky, denied directing.
Lander, who knocked off Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) in the Democratic primary, said he’s been dealing with The Post for years during his time in city politics despite “taking it on the chin” from time to time.
“I just recognize what an important New York institution it is,” he said.
