Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign took in illegal foreign donations, according to newly obtained records
Those records reveal that Mamdani’s campaign for mayor accepted thousands in prohibited foreign contributions.
As a frontrunner in the race, Mamdani’s alleged violation of campaign finance laws has critics calling for accountability.
The information comes from an in-depth review of New York City Campaign Finance Board filings, showing at least 170 donations from foreign addresses – a violation of federal, state, and city regulations that ban non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents from funding political campaigns.
Candidates are legally obligated to repay the illegal funds immediately, however Mamdani’s team has not returned all the money.
He could be facing potential fines and jail time.
The campaign raised $4 million in private funds and $12.7 million in public matching dollars – most of his support coming from outside of New York City including a recent $1.05 million donation.
Recent investigations show direct financial links between his campaign and several M*slim organizations – some with documented ties to extremism and terrorism.
These connections, funneled through political action committees (PACs) and amplified by taxpayer matching funds, spark concerns from conservatives that Mamdani’s progressive platform may be fueled by foreign-influenced or extremists, possibly terrorists.***
Here are some of the organizational ties, according to campaign finance records and expert analyses:
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA): This group, branded by counterterrorism experts as the North American arm of the violent
South Asian Islamist network Jamaat-e-Islami, saw five of its staff donate a combined $1,300 directly to Mamdani’s campaign.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): Labeled a Hamas-aligned organization and named an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal terror-financing case (where a board member drew a 65-year sentence)
CAIR’s super PAC, Unity and Justice Fund, poured $100,000 into Mamdani’s top supporting PAC, New Yorkers for Lower Costs.
Illinois Muslim Political Action Committee: This outfit donated $10,500 to the same pro-Mamdani super PAC.
Its roster includes ex-leaders of Chicago’s Mosque Foundation, which has funneled money to at least four charities that were shutdown for financing terrorism.
Beyond these, a surge of M*slim American donors – many first-timers galvanized by the Gaza conflict – flooded Mamdani with over $500,000 in pledges in a single day, including large sums from tech moguls like Rehan Azhar ($150,000) and the Rocket Money co-founders ($189,000).
