Foreign Echoes in the Race for City Hall
Zohran Mamdani Hit With Criminal Referrals Over Alleged Foreign Donations in NYC Mayoral Race
New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is facing mounting legal trouble after a national campaign finance watchdog filed two criminal referrals on Tuesday, accusing him of accepting illegal foreign donations during his bid for City Hall.
The Coolidge Reagan Foundation, a conservative legal advocacy group, submitted the referrals to both the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleging multiple violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act and the New York Election Code.
The complaints come just weeks after a New York Post investigation revealed that Mamdani’s campaign accepted nearly $13,000 in contributions from more than 170 donors with addresses outside the United States, including a donation from the candidate’s own mother-in-law in Dubai.
“These are not isolated mistakes or clerical errors,” said Dan Backer, president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation and a well-known campaign finance attorney. “This represents 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.”
Backer added that Mamdani’s campaign had been “on notice for months” that it was receiving impermissible foreign contributions but failed to take meaningful corrective action.
Pattern of Foreign Contributions
According to the foundation’s filings, the questionable donations came from individuals in countries such as Australia, Turkey, France, Canada, and Germany, among others. The group alleged that the campaign’s internal controls showed a “systematic failure to comply” with both federal and state election regulations.
Federal law explicitly prohibits foreign nationals from making donations in any U.S. election, whether federal, state, or local. The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) states that candidates may not “accept or receive” such contributions, and violators can face significant fines or even imprisonment if found to have acted knowingly.
“The law is crystal clear,” Backer emphasized in a statement. “Foreign nationals cannot take part in American elections, and that includes campaign donations. Yet Mamdani’s campaign repeatedly accepted contributions from abroad, some from regions openly sympathetic to hostile foreign actors. Whether through negligence or intent, this conduct undermines the integrity of our democratic process.”
The Coolidge Reagan Foundation has a history of filing high-profile complaints against Democratic figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, and the Democratic National Committee. It has now called on both Bragg and the Justice Department to launch a formal investigation into Mamdani’s campaign finances.
Campaign Pushes Back
The Mamdani campaign, meanwhile, has pushed back on the allegations, arguing that some of the questioned donations came from U.S. citizens living abroad—a category of donors that is legally permitted under election law.
“All U.S. citizens and permanent residents, including those residing overseas, are legally allowed to contribute to New York City campaigns,” said campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“The campaign has a rigorous compliance process in place to ensure adherence to these laws,” Pekec added. “We review all contributions from donors with foreign addresses to confirm their citizenship or residency status. Any donations found to be impermissible will be promptly refunded.”
Records indicate that while some refunds have already been issued, roughly 88 foreign donations totaling more than $7,000 remain unreturned.
Mamdani’s campaign has raised approximately $4 million in private donations, supplemented by $12.7 million in public matching funds from the city’s campaign finance system. As of last week, the campaign reported having $6.1 million in cash on hand, less than a month before Election Day.
Political Fallout and Rising Tensions
The controversy comes at a crucial time for Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist known for his outspoken progressive agenda and criticism of U.S. foreign policy. Once a relatively unknown state assemblyman from Queens, he has surged ahead in recent polls—leading both former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
However, the allegations have fueled growing unease within New York’s Democratic establishment. Several party figures have privately expressed concern that the scandal could jeopardize Mamdani’s credibility just as early voting begins.
Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have seized on the story as evidence of what they describe as widespread corruption within Democratic political circles.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a vocal Trump ally, criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul for endorsing Mamdani despite what she called his “radical” associations. Stefanik accused Mamdani of being “a jihadist sympathizer” for having previously met with Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
“The fact that New York Democrats are rallying behind someone with this record is disgraceful,” Stefanik said.
Next Steps
Legal experts say the referrals do not automatically result in prosecution but could trigger formal investigations by both federal and local prosecutors. If found in violation, Mamdani could face significant fines and potential disqualification from office.
“The DOJ and Manhattan DA will have to determine whether there’s intent or negligence,” said election law attorney Rachel Simmons. “But even the appearance of foreign money in a local race is deeply problematic.”
As the campaign enters its final stretch, Mamdani insists he’s focused on “fighting for working-class New Yorkers.” But with criminal referrals now looming over his candidacy, his path to City Hall may be colder—and more uncertain—than ever.