DOJ Referral Filed Against Mamdani Over Alleged Foreign Donations in NYC Mayoral Race
When Zohran Mamdani stood before cheering supporters on election night to claim victory in New York City’s mayoral race, he promised to bring “a new era of honesty, fairness, and transparency” to City Hall.
Just two weeks later, that promise is under intense scrutiny.
A Washington-based campaign finance watchdog has filed two criminal referrals against Mamdani — one to the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and another to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office — accusing the 34-year-old democratic socialist of accepting unlawful foreign campaign donations during his historic run for mayor.
The allegations, if proven, could represent one of the most significant violations of campaign finance law in New York City’s modern political history — and an early test of credibility for a leader who campaigned on cleaning up government.
The Watchdog Steps In
The complaints were filed by the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, a conservative nonprofit known for targeting what it calls “systemic corruption in campaign finance.” The foundation has previously filed complaints against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and the Democratic National Committee.
In its latest action, the group claims that Mamdani’s campaign “knowingly and repeatedly accepted” contributions from individuals living outside the United States — a potential violation of both the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and New York Election Code.
“These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors,” said Dan Backer, a veteran campaign finance attorney and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, in a statement provided to reporters.
“This was a sustained pattern of foreign money flowing into a New York City mayoral race — a clear violation of federal law and New York City’s campaign finance rules. Mamdani’s campaign was on notice for months that it was accepting illegal foreign contributions, and yet it did nothing meaningful to stop it.”
According to the Foundation, the complaint is based in part on data first uncovered by The New York Post earlier this month, which revealed that Mamdani’s campaign received approximately $13,000 in contributions from at least 170 donors residing overseas — including one from his own mother-in-law in Dubai.
The Legal Stakes
Federal law is unambiguous: it is illegal for foreign nationals to donate money to American political campaigns, whether at the federal, state, or local level.
The Federal Election Campaign Act explicitly prohibits any person from “soliciting, accepting, or receiving” contributions from individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Violations can carry severe penalties, including hefty fines and potential prison sentences for knowing or willful violations.
“The law is crystal clear,” Backer said. “Foreign nationals may not participate in American elections, and that includes making contributions. Yet Mamdani’s campaign repeatedly accepted donations from individuals abroad — some even tied to regions and individuals openly sympathetic to hostile actors. Whether through negligence or intent, this conduct undermines the integrity of the democratic process.”
