{"id":2504743,"date":"2025-10-30T11:25:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-returns-9k-in-campaign-donations-after-investigation\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T11:28:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:28:08","slug":"mamdani-returns-9k-in-campaign-donations-after-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-returns-9k-in-campaign-donations-after-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani returns $9k in campaign donations after investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-returns-9k-in-campaign-donations-after-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2504743&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s campaign returned approximately $9,000 in possibly illegal foreign donations after an examination by the conservative Coolidge Reagan Foundation. Mamdani&#8217;s campaign had initially received nearly $13,000 from overseas donors, although it claims about $4,000 came from American citizens living abroad, which are legal contributions. The coolidge Reagan Foundation filed two criminal referrals against the campaign, asserting that it ignored repeated warnings about accepting illegal foreign funds, violating both federal law and New York City campaign finance rules. The Campaign Finance Board acknowledged system issues that allowed foreign donations to be processed and emphasized that improper contributions must be returned. Although Mamdani&#8217;s campaign has refunded some money, it continued to recieve small foreign donations recently. Other mayoral candidates, including Curtis sliwa and Andrew Cuomo, have also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-investigators-issue-subpoenas-in-nyc-mayors-foreign-collusion-case-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Federal investigators issue subpoenas in NYC mayor\u2019s foreign collusion case - Washington Examiner\">received foreign donations<\/a>, with varying responses regarding refunds. Despite the controversy, Mamdani maintains a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-despite-floridas-even-split-between-gop-dems-desantis-has-strong-approval-rating-overwhelming-support-on-pandemic\/\" title=\"POLL: Despite Florida\u2019s Even Split Between GOP, Dems, DeSantis Has Strong Approval Rating, Overwhelming Support On Pandemic\">double-digit lead<\/a> in the mayoral race, and the foreign donations represent a small fraction of his overall $4 million fundraising total.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mamdani returns $9,000 in campaign donations after conservative organization investigation<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2387247\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york-city\/\">New York City<\/a> mayoral candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani&rsquo;s<\/a> campaign has returned about $9,000 in possibly illegal foreign donations.<\/p>\n<p>The socialist&rsquo;s campaign had taken nearly $13,000 from overseas donations, the <em>New York Post<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/10\/29\/us-news\/zohran-mamdani-campaign-still-receiving-overseas-cash-after-returning-9k-in-foreign-donations\/\">reported earlier<\/a> this month. Two criminal referrals were filed against Mamdani&rsquo;s campaign over the donations on Tuesday by the&nbsp;Coolidge Reagan Foundation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3869021\/mamdani-double-digit-lead-new-york-city-mayoral-election-week-poll\/\">Mamdani holds on to double-digit lead going into election week: Poll<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3868726\/spanberger-to-host-latino-outreach-rally-at-mexican-restaurant\/\">&#8216;Political checkbox:&#8217; Spanberger to host Latino outreach rally at Mexican restaurant<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3868372\/what-to-know-mikie-sherrill-jack-ciattarelli\/\">What to know about the two candidates for governor in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Mamdani&rsquo;s campaign says the remaining $4,000 comes from American citizens living overseas, which are legal donations.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign refunded about $4,000 from 67 overseas donors during the filing period between Sept. 8 and Oct. 20, according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board. One donation came from Ada Diaz Ahmed,&nbsp;a Dubai-based investor, who lent the Mamdani campaign the maximum $2,100.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani&rsquo;s campaign continued to receive donations from abroad recently, taking in $130 total from three people in London, Australia, and Germany this month.<\/p>\n<p>The two candidates Mamdani is competing against to be the city&rsquo;s next mayor, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have also received foreign donations. Cuomo has received about $1,100 in foreign donations, with half being refunded. Sliwa has received $70 with no refunds yet.<\/p>\n<p>Both campaigns have said they would return illicit contributions.<\/p>\n<p>A CFB spokesperson told the <em>New York Post<\/em> that the donations should not have been processed to begin with.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If the city&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >campaign finance portal allowed foreign donations<\/a> to be processed, that is a system issue the Campaign Finance Board must address and any improper contributions will be returned,&rdquo; CFB spokesman Daniel Kurzyna said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The Coolidge Reagan Foundation argued that Mamdani&rsquo;s campaign did little to act against the foreign donations. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors,&rdquo; Dan Backer, a national campaign finance expert and president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, said in a statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Backer added. &ldquo;Mamdani&rsquo;s campaign was on notice for months that it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-suggests-additional-charges-may-be-filed-against-new-york-mayor-eric-adams-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"DOJ Suggests Additional Charges May Be ... Against New York Mayor Eric Adams - Washington Examiner\">accepting illegal foreign contributions<\/a>, and yet it did nothing meaningful to stop it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3869021\/mamdani-double-digit-lead-new-york-city-mayoral-election-week-poll\/\">MAMDANI HOLDS ON TO DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD GOING <\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3869021\/mamdani-double-digit-lead-new-york-city-mayoral-election-week-poll\/\">INTO<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3869021\/mamdani-double-digit-lead-new-york-city-mayoral-election-week-poll\/\">  ELECTION WEEK: POLL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Backer said the donations amounted to a violation that &ldquo;undermines the integrity of the democratic process.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The foreign donations account for a small percentage of the total fundraising haul from the Mamdani campaign, which is about $4 million in private donations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamdani returns $9K in possibly illegal foreign donations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2504744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/z-mamdani-2.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[39379,66161,3976,56552,33642],"class_list":["post-2504743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-campaign-donations","tag-donation-refund","tag-investigation","tag-mamdani","tag-political-funding"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/z-mamdani-2.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2504743"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2504747,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504743\/revisions\/2504747"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2504744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2504743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2504743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2504743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}