Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner in New York City’s mayoral race, is facing serious legal and ethical questions after an explosive investigation revealed his campaign accepted nearly $13,000 in potentially illegal foreign donations — including a $500 contribution from his own mother-in-law in Dubai.
A review by the New York City Campaign Finance Board, first reported by the New York Post, uncovered that at least 170 individual contributions originated from donors with foreign addresses — a direct violation of laws banning political donations from non-citizens and foreign nationals. The donations span across Canada, Germany, Australia, the UAE, and other countries, casting a cloud over the integrity of Mamdani’s campaign finance practices.
Despite public statements from Mamdani’s team pledging to return all unlawful donations, campaign filings show that $7,190 worth of flagged contributions — nearly half of the total — have yet to be refunded. The campaign has offered no explanation for the delay or the discrepancy.
A Global Web of Donors
Some of the foreign donors include:
James Furlaud, an Australian environmental scientist – $2,100
Ada Diaz Ahmed, a Dubai-based investor and Mamdani’s mother-in-law – $2,100
Jun-Dai Bates Kobashigawa, a Canadian software developer – $250
Ugur Macit, a German software engineer – $250
Ahmed Enbya, a physician in Calgary, Canada – $100
GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa called the situation “just the tip of the iceberg,” raising alarms about possible foreign influence and undisclosed “dark money” funding Mamdani’s $4 million campaign — which has already received an eye-popping $12.7 million in public matching funds.
Multiple Ethics Clouds
This isn’t Mamdani’s first ethics headache. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, recently accused Mamdani of gaming the city’s housing system by occupying a rent-stabilized apartment meant for low-income residents — despite his personal wealth and rising political profile.
“You are a rich person stealing affordable housing from the poor,” Cuomo said. “Let’s build a new NYC that works for the people who need it.” Cuomo has since proposed a new measure, dubbed “Zohran’s Law,” aimed at preventing the wealthy from abusing rent-stabilized housing benefits.
Public Trust at Risk
With just weeks left before Election Day, Mamdani’s campaign is facing mounting scrutiny on two fronts: questions of foreign influence and questions of personal integrity. The NYC Campaign Finance Board confirmed it is auditing all campaigns but refused to comment on the specific findings related to Mamdani.
As Mamdani continues to champion his “Democratic Socialist” vision for the city, voters are now being asked to weigh whether the candidate’s fundraising practices and personal choices align with the values he claims to represent.
The post Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign Rocked by Foreign Donation Scandal appeared first on Real News Now.
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