Suspect charged threatening to kill New York mayoral candidate Mamdani

Minara Helen: Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jeremy Fistel (44), of Plano, Texas, has been indicted for making death threats against New York State Assembly Member and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. A grand jury charged him with 22 counts, including hate crime-related terroristic threats and aggravated harassment.

According to prosecutors, between June and July 2025, Fistel repeatedly left voicemails and written messages for Mamdani’s office. In them, he told Mamdani to return to Uganda or face being shot in the head. He also threatened his family, saying they “deserved to die,” and in one written message wished that Mamdani and his loved ones would die of cancer or be killed in a violent attack.

DA Katz said, “Threats against elected officials are extremely serious. There is no place for hate or violence in our political discourse.”

Fistel was arrested in Texas on September 11 and extradited to Queens on September 17. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison. He has been ordered to return to court on November 19.