A 44-year-old man from Texas has been arrested on charges of making terroristic threats against New York mayoral candidate and State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani.
A Texas man has been charged with making terroristic threats against Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assembly member and the frontrunner in the race for New York City mayor.
— ABC News (@ABC) September 19, 2025
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Jeremy Fistel, 44, allegedly threatened Mamdani in voicemail and written messages in June and July, according to officials.
"As alleged, the defendant threatened an elected official by leaving a series of increasingly alarming anti-Muslim messages with the office of Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. The defendant told the assemblyman to go back to Uganda before someone shoots him in the head, to keep an eye on his house and family, to watch his back every second until he leaves America, and that he and his relatives deserve to die," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. "Let me be very clear – we take threats of violence against any office holder extremely seriously – and there is no room for hate or bigotry in our political discourse."
The New York Post reported Fistel was released on $30K bail. Outside of a Queens courthouse, Fistel was bombarded by reporters. A man, presumably Fistel's attorney, told the media, "There's no comment other than we pled 'not guilty.'"
Texas man busted for making vile death threats against Zohran Mamdani, released on $30K bail https://t.co/mF8SuIgsO2 pic.twitter.com/ch3qtqGAXH
— New York Post (@nypost) September 18, 2025
Prosecutors allege Fistel left several expletive-laden, threatening messages at his Assembly office in Queens. In one message, Fistel reportedly said, "You’re a terrorist piece of s–t, and you’re not welcome in New York or in America, neither is your f–king family so they should get the f–k out," and in another, "Go start your car and see what happens. I’d keep an eye on your house and family. Watch your f–king back every f–king second until you get the f–k out of America."
Fistel was arrested in Plano, Texas, and extradited to New York City last week. Law enforcement reported Fistel told them, “If this is about phone calls, I just won’t make any anymore" and said he didn't want to go to New York City because the city is "like an alcoholic that has hit rock bottom."
According to the New York Post, Fistel is charged with four counts of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, four counts of making a terroristic threat, seven counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree as a hate crime and seven counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.