New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, currently viewed as a leading contender in the race, is facing new scrutiny after a campaign finance watchdog filed two criminal referrals alleging his campaign accepted illegal donations from foreign sources.

On Tuesday, the Coolidge Reagan Foundation submitted formal referrals to the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The organization claims Mamdani’s campaign may have violated both the Federal Election Campaign Act and New York State and City election laws by accepting contributions from individuals living outside the United States.

The filings stem from a recent report that raised questions about the geographic origins of some campaign donations. According to that report, Mamdani’s campaign received close to $13,000 from at least 170 donors whose listed addresses were outside the country. Among those cited was a contribution allegedly linked to a family member residing in Dubai.

Dan Backer, president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation and a longtime campaign finance attorney, said the organization believes the issue goes beyond accidental errors. In a statement, Backer argued that the donations reflect a recurring pattern rather than isolated compliance mistakes.

He asserted that foreign money repeatedly entered a local mayoral race in violation of election law and claimed the campaign had ample warning over several months but failed to take adequate corrective action.

The Coolidge Reagan Foundation has a history of filing campaign finance complaints against high-profile Democratic figures and organizations, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and the Democratic National Committee. In this case, the group urged both federal and local prosecutors to open investigations and consider potential charges if violations are confirmed.

According to the foundation, the questioned donations originated from a wide range of countries, including Australia, Turkey, France, Canada, and Germany. The organization characterized the campaign’s handling of these contributions as a “systematic failure” to comply with applicable regulations.

Federal law strictly prohibits candidates from knowingly accepting campaign contributions from foreign nationals in elections at any level of government. Violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act can result in significant financial penalties and, in severe cases, criminal prosecution.

Backer emphasized that the prohibition is unambiguous, stating that foreign nationals are barred from participating financially in U.S. elections. He added that accepting such contributions, whether intentionally or due to negligence, threatens public trust in the electoral process.

Campaign finance records reviewed by the watchdog group indicate that while Mamdani’s campaign refunded some donations tied to foreign addresses, dozens of contributions remain unresolved. The foundation claims at least 88 donations totaling more than $7,000 have not yet been returned.

Financial disclosures show that Mamdani’s campaign has raised approximately $4 million in private donations and has also received $12.7 million in public matching funds under New York City’s campaign finance program. With Election Day less than a month away, the campaign reports having roughly $6.1 million available for final outreach and advertising.

A spokesperson for Mamdani responded to the allegations by emphasizing that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents living abroad are legally allowed to donate to local campaigns. The campaign stated that some contributions flagged by critics may have come from Americans residing overseas rather than foreign nationals.

The spokesperson added that the campaign maintains internal compliance procedures designed to verify donor eligibility, particularly when contributors list non-U.S. addresses. According to the campaign, any donations later determined to be impermissible would be refunded promptly.

Despite the controversy, recent polling indicates Mamdani maintains a strong lead over his opponents, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

The race has also drawn sharp political criticism from national figures. Last week, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York publicly criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for endorsing Mamdani, raising concerns about his past associations and statements. Those remarks have further intensified debate surrounding the candidate as the election approaches.

At present, no charges have been filed, and both the Department of Justice and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office have not publicly commented on the referrals. Whether the complaints will result in a formal investigation remains unclear, but the filings add a new layer of controversy to an already closely watched mayoral contest.