New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is facing two criminal referrals after a watchdog group accused his campaign of accepting illegal foreign contributions. The Coolidge Reagan Foundation filed complaints with both the Justice Department and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, alleging violations of federal and state election laws. According to the filings, Mamdani’s campaign received nearly $13,000 from at least 170 donors abroad, including one donation from his mother-in-law in Dubai.
Foundation president Dan Backer called the pattern “a sustained flow of foreign money” into the race and urged prosecutors to take action. Mamdani’s team has refunded some contributions but reportedly kept over $7,000 in disputed donations. A campaign spokesperson claimed many donors were U.S. citizens living overseas, insisting compliance protocols are in place. With Election Day weeks away and polls showing Mamdani still leading, the allegations could spark a late political firestorm threatening his once-steady advantage.
