New York City Mayoral Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani Faces Criminal Referrals Over Alleged Foreign Donations
New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is under legal scrutiny after a campaign finance watchdog filed two criminal referrals on Tuesday, alleging his campaign illegally accepted donations from foreign contributors.
The Coolidge Reagan Foundation submitted the referrals to both the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, claiming potential violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and New York Election Code.
These filings follow a New York Post investigation earlier this month that revealed Mamdani’s campaign had collected nearly $13,000 from at least 170 donors with addresses outside the United States — including one alleged donation from his mother-in-law in Dubai.
“These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors,” said Dan Backer, president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation. “This was a sustained pattern of foreign money flowing into a New York City mayoral race, which is a clear violation of both federal law and city campaign finance rules.” He added that the campaign had been notified months ago about impermissible donations but failed to act.
The Coolidge Reagan Foundation — which has previously filed complaints against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and the Democratic National Committee — is urging a full investigation and potential prosecution. According to the group, the questionable donations came from countries including Australia, Turkey, France, Canada, and Germany, highlighting a “systematic failure to comply” with campaign finance laws.
Under federal law, campaigns cannot accept contributions from foreign nationals. Violators can face severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. While Mamdani’s campaign has refunded some foreign contributions, at least 88 donations totaling $7,190 remain unreturned.
Campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec defended Mamdani, stating that some disputed donations may have come from U.S. citizens living overseas. “All U.S. citizens and permanent residents — including those abroad — are legally permitted to contribute,” Pekec told Fox News Digital. “The campaign maintains a rigorous verification process, and any impermissible donations are promptly refunded.”
Despite these assurances, the allegations threaten to overshadow Mamdani’s lead in the polls. Recent surveys show the self-described socialist ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
The controversy has also drawn political backlash. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for endorsing Mamdani and referenced his past meeting with Siraj Wahhaj, an imam labeled an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, calling Mamdani a “jihadist.”
With less than a month until Election Day, the criminal referrals, media scrutiny, and political attacks present a major challenge for Mamdani’s campaign, one that could impact not only his candidacy but also the enforcement of New York City’s campaign finance laws in future elections.