Zohran Mamdani, a socialist candidate, finds himself under scrutiny as the Coolidge Reagan Foundation (CRF), a campaign finance watchdog, has referred him to the Department of Justice for alleged campaign finance violations.
The CRF has filed two criminal referrals, accusing Mamdani of accepting illicit contributions from foreign donors.
As reported by The Post Millennial, a thorough examination of Mamdani's campaign finances revealed that he received $13,000 from 170 donors residing outside the United States. This revelation has raised significant concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
A campaign finance expert from the CRF told Fox News Digital, "These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors. 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. Mamdanis campaign was on notice for months that it was accepting illegal foreign contributions, and yet it did nothing meaningful to stop it."
In response to these allegations, Mamdani's campaign stated, "31 of the 170 donors have proven their citizenship or legal permanent residence and have been deemed permissible by the Campaign Finance Board, and the remaining 139 have had their donations refunded."
Despite this defense, the CRF has proceeded with its referral to Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the DOJs Criminal Division and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office.
The CRF's concerns are rooted in the legal framework that prohibits foreign nationals from participating in American elections, including making financial contributions. Backer, a representative of the CRF, emphasized, "The law is crystal clear that foreign nationals may not participate in American elections, and that includes making contributions. Yet Mamdanis campaign repeatedly accepted donations from individuals abroad."
He further argued that "whether through negligence or intent, this conduct undermines the integrity of the democratic process."
The Department of Justice is now urged to investigate potential violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), while the Manhattan District Attorney's office is examining possible breaches of New York Election Law 17.152. This statute criminalizes conspiracies to unlawfully influence elections.
CRF Chairman Shaun McCutcheon underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, "Every dollar illegally funneled into a campaign from abroad dilutes the voice of lawful American voters. This case must be investigated immediately, and those responsible held accountable." The unfolding investigation will determine the extent of the alleged violations and the appropriate legal consequences.
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