Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani Faces Two Criminal Investigations [WATCH]

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing two criminal referrals following allegations that his campaign accepted nearly $13,000 in contributions from donors with foreign addresses, in potential violation of federal and local election laws.

The complaints were filed on October 28, 2025, by the Coolidge Reagan Foundation (CRF), a conservative campaign finance watchdog.

The group submitted referrals to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, according to a report from Fox News.

The filings accuse Mamdani’s campaign of accepting prohibited foreign donations during the current election cycle.

Zohran Mamdani is facing two criminal referrals from a campaign finance watchdog group.

The referrals claim Mamdani accepted prohibited contributions from foreign donors, potentially breaching the Federal Election Campaign Act and New York Election Code.

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A review of records from the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) shows that Mamdani’s campaign received at least 170 donations totaling about $13,000 from contributors listing addresses outside the United States.

Those addresses included locations in Australia, Canada, Dubai, France, Germany, and Turkey.

One of the flagged donations was a $500 contribution from Mamdani’s mother-in-law, a pediatrician based in Dubai, which was refunded four days after it was made in January 2025.

Another involved a $2,100 donation in September 2025 from an investor also located in Dubai.

CRF President Dan Backer said the data revealed a “sustained pattern” of questionable contributions.

“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 New York City campaign finance rules,” Backer stated.

He added that refunds issued after the donations were received do not eliminate potential violations.

“The totality of the circumstances indicates likely illegal contributions, even if some donors might be U.S. citizens or green-card holders living abroad,” Backer said.

Federal law under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits foreign nationals — defined as individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents — from contributing to any U.S. election.

The same restrictions apply to state and local races.

Knowingly accepting or soliciting such donations can carry penalties including fines or imprisonment.

CRF’s referral to the Department of Justice asserts that Mamdani’s campaign failed to properly vet donors and that the volume of foreign-linked contributions warranted criminal investigation.

As of mid-October 2025, campaign finance records showed that Mamdani’s team refunded 91 contributions totaling $5,723.50.

However, at the time of reporting, 88 additional donations amounting to about $7,190 had not yet been returned.

CRF Chairman Shaun McCutcheon called the donations a “threat to self-government” and urged immediate prosecution, saying that foreign money in U.S. elections “undermines public confidence in the democratic process.”

The Mamdani campaign acknowledged the donations but denied any wrongdoing.

Campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said all contributions were reviewed through “a rigorous compliance process.”

She emphasized that federal, state, and city laws allow U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents living abroad to donate.

“The Campaign has a rigorous compliance process in place,” Pekec said.

“Refunds have and will be made.”

According to the campaign, 31 of the 170 questioned donors provided documentation proving U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and the CFB determined that their contributions were permissible. The remaining 139 donations were refunded.

“Any issue regarding financial contributions has been resolved,” the campaign said in a written statement.

“We will of course return any donations that are not in compliance with CFB law.”

The allegations come just days before Tuesday’s mayoral election, where Mamdani, a self-described socialist and state assemblyman from Queens, is heavily favored to win.

His campaign has reported raising $4 million in private donations and qualifying for $12.7 million in public matching funds under New York City’s campaign finance program.

Mamdani’s opponents include Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary earlier this year.

Both challengers have called for greater scrutiny of campaign fundraising practices and transparency in donor reporting.