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Exclusive | Chinese companies blacklisted for ‘force labor’ saw a boon in NYC pension investments under Brad Lander

Nypost · · 670 words · By Hannah Fierick
Political accountability Ethical Investing Human rights violations
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/us-news/ex-nyc-comptroller-brad-lander-increased-p…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Appeal to Hypocrisy 85% confidence
Dismissing someone's argument because their behavior contradicts it.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

18 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 8
info Single Source 4
verified Verified By Reference 2
check_circle Corroborated 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info
“Seven Chinese companies blacklisted by the US for engaging in horrific forced labor practices saw a multimillion-dollar boost in investments from New York City’s pension funds during ex-city Comptroller Brad Lander’s tenure”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim is reported by a single news source (The Post) in the provided web search results. No other independent news organizations were found to corroborate the specific detail about seven Chinese companies receiving a multimillion-dollar boost.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On April 12, 2025, Iran and the United States began a series of negotiations aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement, following a letter from US president Donald Trump to Iranian supreme leader Al…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2026_Iran–United_States_n…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in New York will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the 26 U.S. representatives from the State of New York, one from each of the state's 26…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Re…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural h…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Lander — who is running in the Democratic House primary to unseat Rep. Dan Goldman — oversaw increasing the city’s investments in the companies even after they were sanctioned under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of search results for 'Brad Pitt', which are irrelevant. There is no evidence provided regarding Brad Lander running against Dan Goldman or his specific actions regarding UFLPA sanctions in the provided results.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Pitt
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web search NEUTRAL — William Bradley "Brad" Pitt was born on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and raised in Springfield, Missouri, the son of Jane Etta (Hillhouse), a school counselor, and William Alvin "Bill" Pitt,…
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 18, 2026 · Brad Pitt is an American actor known for his portrayal of unconventional characters. He channeled his magnetism as a leading man in Legends of the Fall (1994) but avoided being typecast…
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brad-Pitt
info
“The city’s investment in the firms on the UFLPA list skyrocketed from $4.8 million in 2022, when Lander took office, to $11.1 million by the end of his term in 2025”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific figures ($4.8 million to $11.1 million) are only mentioned in the report from The Post. No other independent sources corroborate these specific numbers.
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web search NEUTRAL — The city’s investment in the firms on the UFLPA list skyrocketed from $4.8 million in 2022, when Lander took office, to $11.1 million by the end of his term in 2025, public records show. Brad Lander s…
https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/us-news/ex-nyc-comptroller-bra…
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web search NEUTRAL — The UFLPA Entity List soared from ~66 entities (2024) to 144 entities in 2025, adding 78 new listings in just one year. The business impact includes broader supplier exposure, faster changes, and high…
https://www.visualcompliance.com/blog/how-supply-chain-compl…
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web search NEUTRAL — The UFLPA (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act) entity list continues.
https://www.dhs.gov/uflpa-entity-list
verified
“The UFLPA bans imports from businesses whose goods are believed to have been made using the forced labor of Uyghurs and other oppressed ethnic minorities in China’s western Xinjiang region.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The purpose and function of the UFLPA are confirmed by Wikipedia and official U.S. government sources (DHS and Department of Labor).
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web search NEUTRAL — "An Act to ensure that goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China do not enter the United States market, and for other purposes."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uyghur_Forced_Labor_Prevention…
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web search NEUTRAL — The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) presumes that the U.S. will prohibit the import of all goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in Xinjiang (or by an entity on the force…
https://wirescreen.ai/blog/uflpa
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web search NEUTRAL — Fighting for American Jobs Through Trade. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.ILAB has prioritized enforcing the UFLPA, which aligns with the U.S. government’s broader efforts to eradicate forced labor…
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/uyghur-forced-labor-preven…
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“Lander has claimed his role as comptroller — managing about $290 billion in assets for five public pension funds — centered around ethics.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm Brad Lander's role as comptroller and the approximate size of the assets managed (approximately $290-300 billion).
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web search NEUTRAL — While investments aren’t banned, Lander has claimed his role as comptroller — managing about $290 billion in assets for five public pension funds — centered around ethics.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/us-news/ex-nyc-comptroller-bra…
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web search NEUTRAL — Holdings in Palantir represent a fraction of New York City’s five public pension funds’ roughly $300 billion in assets, which support 750,000 current and retired public servants.
https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-invests-in-firm-that-helps-ic…
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web search NEUTRAL — City pension funds had reduced their Palantir holdings between June 2021 and June 2022. Lander took office as comptroller in January 2022, and public disclosures do not indicate whether those transact…
https://www.amny.com/news/nyc-pension-funds-palantir-lander/…
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“His office’s decision to end investments in all Israel bonds in 2023 sparked fierce blowback from the Jewish community.”
CORROBORATED
The divestment from Israel Bonds in 2023 and the subsequent blowback from the Jewish community are reported by multiple sources.
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web search NEUTRAL — Israel Bonds, the commonly known name of Development Corporation for Israel (DCI), is the U.S. underwriter of debt securities issued by the State of Israel. DCI is headquartered in New York City and i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Bonds
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web search NEUTRAL — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s recent revelation that his office ended all city pension investments in Israel Bonds in 2023 is drawing fierce pushback from the Jewish establishment.
https://forward.com/fast-forward/755626/israel-bonds-brad-la…
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web search NEUTRAL — NYC mayoral favorite Mamdani vows to end city investments in Israeli bonds if elected. Mayoral candidate supports halting pension fund purchases but stops short of full BDS backing.
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-866693
info
“his office expanded pension investments in Palantir Technologies — a data analytics company used by ICE immigration enforcement”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general information about New York City and tourism, which does not mention Palantir Technologies or pension investments.
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web search NEUTRAL — New York, often called New York City (NYC), [b] is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natur…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City
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web search NEUTRAL — On the homepage of nyc.gov, you can check today's statuses for parking, schools, and trash collection. You can also access popular services, news, and see what's new from NYC government.
https://www.nyc.gov/main
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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 6, 2025 · Central Park expands across 843 acres from midtown Manhattan up to Harlem. Some of the most famous parts of Central Park include Sheep Meadow, The Great Lawn, Bethesda Fountain, Belveder…
https://travel.usnews.com/New_York_NY/Things_To_Do/
verified
“the UFLPA list, which is managed by the US Department of Homeland Security.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Official government sources (DHS/UFLPA Fact Sheet) confirm that the UFLPA and its entity list are managed by the Department of Homeland Security.
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web search NEUTRAL — UFLPA directs FLETF to develop strategy for supporting the prohibition on the importation of goods into the U.S. manufactured from People's Republic of China.
https://www.dhs.gov/uflpa
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 20, 2025 · The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) is a U.S. law. It established a rebuttable presumption that goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghu…
https://www.state.gov/office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficki…
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web search NEUTRAL — The UFLPA is a critical U.S. government tool for preventing U.S. imports of goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/uyghur-forced-labor-preven…
help
“the comptroller’s office purchased stock in Cofco Sugar Holding, a Chinese sugar manufacturer, the same year it was added to the list in December 2023.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny the purchase of stock in Cofco Sugar Holding.
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“Another company, large appliance manufacturer Changhong Meiling, was put on the list in 2022 after reports that police had escorted 90 people from Xinjiang to work there.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding Changhong Meiling or the specific reports of 90 people from Xinjiang.
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“That didn’t deter the comptroller’s office from investing $7.4 million in pension funds in the company in 2024. That investment now stands at about half a million dollars in shares.”
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“Lander’s team in 2023 also bought another 96,300 shares in Huafu Fashion — a textile manufacturer on the UFLPA for allegedly using forced labor — on top of the 103,400 shares the city held when he took office.”
PENDING
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“As of June 2025, the city pension funds held close to 200,000 shares of the company’s stock, totaling about $127,000.”
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“The other companies included Ninestar Corp, Zijn Mining, Xingjian Zhongtai Chemical, and Hoshine Silicone Industry”
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“the comptroller does have the power to propose divestment and exclusions to the pension’s board.”
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“Lander unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic mayoral nomination last year and is now going up against incumbent Goldman in the race for New York’s 10th House District.”
PENDING
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“He’s been endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who champions workers’ rights.”
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“Current City Comptroller Mark Levine did not immediately respond to The Post’s inquiry”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.