Zohran Mamdani Responds to Car Bomb Death Threats: ‘Not Surprising'
New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is running in the Democratic primary for mayor in New York City, issued a statement after his office said it received multiple threats about blowing up his car.
Newsweek reached out to Mamdani's campaign and the New York City Police Department outside of business hours for comment.
Mamdani has emerged as a leading candidate among the city's most progressive voters in the mayoral primary election due to policy proposals, including rent freezes and city-owned grocery stores to combat rising grocery costs. He has been endorsed by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Most polls show that one of his rivals,Andrew Cuomo, a centrist candidate who resigned in 2021 as New York's governor amid allegations of sexual harassment that he has denied, has a lead over Mamdani. Whichever candidate wins will likely become the favorite in the November general election, given that New York City is a Democratic stronghold.
Mamdani's campaign recently hired security to deal with the increasing threats made against him. He told reporters this week that he receives anti-Muslim messages and death threats.
Mamdani's office received four voicemails from an unknown individual who said they would blow up his car, a spokesperson for his campaign told various news outlets.
"After multiple death threats and racist messages, Assemblymember Mamdani's office is participating in an ongoing investigation by the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force," the statement said.
"While Zohran does not own a car, the violent and specific language of what appears to be a repeat caller is alarming and we are taking every precaution. While this is a sad reality, it is not surprising after millions of dollars have been spent on dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric designed to stoke division and hate. Violence and racism should have no place in our politics. Zohran remains focused on delivering a safe and affordable New York."
The NYPD said it was investigating the report and added that the calls, which included "threatening anti-Muslim statements," were made on various dates and reported on Wednesday.
Zohran Mamdani told reporters earlier this week: "I get messages that say things like the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim. I get threats on my life and on the people that I love and I try not to talk about it."
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is also running in the primary, said in a statement thatit was "an atrocious threat of political violence" that "has no place in our politics or our society."
The investigation into the threats is ongoing and is being conducted by the Hate Crime Task Force division of the NYPD.
The primary election is next Tuesday, June 24, and early voting has opened. The general election for mayor is November 4, 2025.
Related Articles
Zohran Mamdani's Chances of Beating Cuomo-New Polls One Week Before PrimaryZohran Mamdani's Chances vs. Andrew Cuomo in New York Primary: PollsAOC Scrambles New York City Mayoral Race With EndorsementZohran Mamdani's Chances of Beating Andrew Cuomo in New York Primary: Polls
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
28 minutes ago
- New York Post
Andrew Cuomo aide and Eric Adams trade social media blows as NYC mayoral campaign heats up: ‘Which private club was this sent from?'
New York City's general election for mayor is still more than four months away — but the mudslinging has already started. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat running on an independent line in the November contest, sparred with a longtime Andrew Cuomo aide on social media — after she called out Hizzoner's penchant for clubbing. '12:01am tweeting – which private club was this sent from? Or were you busy smoking cigars with more antisemites at the time of the tweet?' Cuomo lieutenant Melissa DeRosa zinged at Adams Thursday. Advertisement 4 Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and longtime Andrew Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa clashed on social media after the Cuomo lieutenant called out Adams for constantly going clubbing. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images DeRosa — a fierce backer of Cuomo's comeback bid for mayor who worked as his right-hand in the governor's office — had amplified a New York Times story reporting that Adams' Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry was working with ICE on immigration raids. 'Thank god this city has Jessica Tisch @NYPDPC at the helm, or one can only imagine what @ericadamsfornyc and his admin would be doing to bend to Trump's will,' she wrote. Advertisement The mayor shot back with his own choice words shortly after midnight. 'Agreed. Jessica Tisch — second woman NYPD commissioner — is leading the department because I appointed her. And she's delivering results. Andrew Cuomo? He's running for office because he got run out of office?' he posted. DeRosa then slammed Adams' love of nightlife, while also bringing up his recent controversial interview with antisemitic podcaster Sneako over cigars at Gracie Mansion. 4 DeRosa took to X to call out Adams, sending a tweet at 12:01 am speculating that he was at a club or smoking cigars. Eric Adams/X Advertisement Adams hit back, posting: 'I was en route to the Crane Club,' a luxury Chelsea steakhouse that also boasts a members-only club within the restaurant. 'Crime is down, nightlife is back, and the $30 billion industry is helping to rebuild the economy @andrewcuomo tanked with his failed policies like bail reform,' the mayor posted from his campaign account. 'Eric Adams: Delivers. Never quits.' 4 Adams fired back and responded that he was on his way to the Crane club while also taking a shot at mayoral hopeful and Democratic nominee for mayor, Andrew Cuomo. Getty Images Advertisement To political observers, the social media spat was sign that November's election is heating up and likely only to get nastier along the way. Political consultant Chris Sosa said that DeRosa's posts were indicative of Cuomo's political style but that there was little the campaign could gain from it. 'This is the Andrew Cuomo way – insult, antagonize and bully, even when there's nothing to be gained. It's not new to anyone who's had to deal with Andrew in Albany,' he said. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'But favorably citing the NYPD commissioner to score a point against the mayor who appointed her is head scratcher.' Bill Cunningham, a former Communications Director for Mayor Bloomberg and staffer, agreed that Cuomo's camp came off looking worse in the tiff, and predicted that the general election 'could be very vicious.' 'This episode shows Adams as pretty handy in the clinches. Cuomo people should take heed that when they spot an opening they don't fall into it,' he said. 4 Adams is seen as a long shot to win the mayoral election, while running as an independent, with Cuomo still the front runner to win the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. Getty Images Advertisement 'No one voting now or on Tuesday gave a rat's hindquarters about where and when Adams was tweeting. All Melissa did was give him a free shot,' Cunningham added, referring to the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, in which Cuomo is the frontrunner to get the party's nomination. Cuomo rep Rich Azzopardi fired back even harder in response to an inquiry from The Post. 'He's a desperate man who sold out the city to President Trump for his own personal benefit. We wish the MAGA mayor well with whatever administration appointment he gets come January,' Azzopardi snipped about Adams. Advertisement Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro said that mayor was more focused on delivering results for New Yorkers than 'social media theatrics.' 'Mayor Adams is focused on good government, not political mudslinging,' he said in a statement. 'We're not going to be distracted by the noise. This campaign is about leadership, not likes' The mayor has previously defended his late nights at members-only clubs like Zero Bond, saying, 'I hang out with the boys at night and I get up with the men in the morning.'
New York Post
33 minutes ago
- New York Post
Ousted Dem ‘super mayor' charges whopping price tag for tell-all book while dodging legal troubles
The embattled former Chicago suburb 'super mayor' has announced her latest business venture as her legal woes continue to pile up following a tumultuous time in office. Tiffany Henyard, the former Democratic mayor of Dolton, has announced she is peddling a 'tell-all' autobiography, titled 'Standing on Business.' In a Facebook post, the disgraced politician vowed 'the real story is coming' while sharing a link to pre-order the book – which boasts a price tag of $99 and is reportedly the first of a three-part series – from a self-publishing website. 'From mommy moves to making history, [Henyard] is not just showing up,' she wrote. 'She's standing on business.' However, the former mayor's constituents appeared less than pleased, taking their opinions online to voice their skepticism of Henyard's latest business venture. 'Still trying to hustle money!' one commenter said in the Dolton Politics Facebook Page. 'Michelle Obama's bestseller was cheaper than this mess,' another poster wrote. 'The unmitigated gal!' Henyard's attorneys did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Henyard's announcement comes as she faces several legal woes stemming from her time as Dolton mayor and Thornton Township supervisor after her reelection bid proved unsuccessful. 3 Former Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard announced on Facebook that she is writing an autobiography titled, 'Standing on Business.' FOX News Earlier this month, Henyard pleaded the Fifth in a court hearing over a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit from her time at the helm. 'The smear campaign against Tiffany Henyard, which began while she was in office, continues even now that she is out of office,' her attorney, Beau Bridley, previously said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Henyard was previously held in contempt of court after she failed to hand over public documents related to the lawsuit. 3 Henyard received controversy on social media from her former constituents amid her ongoing legal issues. FOX News Her attorney subsequently acknowledged the former mayor does not have the requested documents, with an Illinois judge ruling Henyard's legal team can submit an affidavit in its place. 'The mayor has no document that the plaintiff seeks,' Bridley said. 'This matter is going to be resolved with a simple affidavit. The whole hearing was much ado about nothing.' 3 The Dolton Politics Facebook page received comments such as one saying, 'Still trying to hustle money!' with another commenter replying, 'The unmitigated gal!' FOX News The lawsuit was initially filed by the Edgar County Watchdogs Inc. in response to the organization suing Henyard and the Village of Dolton for failing to produce financial records after the documents were requested under federal FOIA laws. 'We had little doubt Ms. Henyard would use losing the election as an excuse not to produce the documents,' Edward 'Coach' Weinhaus, attorney for Edgar County Watchdogs, previously said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 'Invoking the Fifth Amendment for a criminal investigation was an added wrinkle. The Watchdogs will keep looking for the documents even if the voters might have inadvertently thrown out the documents with the mayor.' Henyard initially made national headlines in April 2024 after officials in her administration were served with subpoenas from the FBI in response to an alleged corruption investigation, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Henyard, however, was never charged. In response to the FBI's investigation, village trustees voted to hire former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightful to investigate Henyard's spending during her time as mayor, with the meeting spiraling into chaos as Henyard's supporters clashed with her opponents. The financial probe reportedly revealed the village's bank account fell from its initial $5.6 million balance to a $3.6 million deficit. Earlier this year, Henyard subsequently lost the city's mayoral primary to Jason House, who was sworn into office in May. On the same day of her election loss, federal authorities slapped the Village of Dolton with a subpoena demanding records tied to a land development project allegedly tied to Henyard's boyfriend. Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
NYC mayoral candidates try to gain any advantage they can ahead of Tuesday's primary
Andrew Cuomo opens up about fear during COVID as primary looms Andrew Cuomo opens up about fear during COVID as primary looms Andrew Cuomo opens up about fear during COVID as primary looms As the New York City Democratic mayoral primary race enters its final weekend, the candidates were looking for any advantage to move voters into their column. Early voting wraps up this Sunday. Primary day is Tuesday. Brad Lander went back to immigration court Friday. Zohran Mamdani complained about the money Andrew Cuomo's super PAC has raised, and Mayor Eric Adams took an action that could affect the general election. Cuomo discusses his fear during the pandemic During an appearance on "The Point with Marcia Kramer," Cuomo admitted he was frightened when the pandemic broke out and he had to handle a crisis no one understood. "You know Marcia, I don't know whether I've fully recovered from that period of time. It was so frightening. It was so traumatic," Cuomo said. Cuomo opened up about what it was like being governor during the pandemic, when no-one knew about the disease. "Nobody knew anything," Cuomo said. "It was - obviously I was frightened. People were talking about millions of deaths" Cuomo's actions during COVID have been a focal point of the campaign - Lander has pressed Cuomo again and again about nursing home deaths. Cuomo said part of the fear had to do with expert predictions of disaster. "There was fear. There was fear. I would sit in these briefings, and they would say millions are going to die," Cuomo said. The full episode of "The Point" airs Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Mamdani takes on Cuomo's super PAC Mamdani stood outside the Campaign Finance Board office Friday to demand it lift the fundraising cap on a super PAC supporting Cuomo because it has raised to over $20 million. "Ultimately, what see is time and time again, billionaires who know that when they give this money to that super PAC, they will continue to profit off of the most unequal city that we have here in the United States," Mamdani said. Don't expect any action from the Campaign Finance Board on the cap. It has no authority over super PAC activities. Lander returns to immigration court Lander went back to immigration court to observe ICE actions Friday. He was not arrested, but he used the opportunity to attack the ads the Cuomo super PAC is running. "These are frightening times, and people unfortunately are stoking fear, and fear can lead to violence," Lander said. Adams switches course on city retirees In a surprise move, Adams - who is running for re-election as an independent and not a Democrat - said he would not force some 250,000 city retirees to change their health coverage to the Medicare Advantage plan, which they argued is inferior to their city plan. The courts ruled this week the city can do it. Adams said he won't. "Thankfully, we have found other ways to address health care costs while providing quality health care coverage for our city's workers, and we have decided not to move forward ... at this time," Adams said in a statement. AARP called the mayor's move a victory for the retirees, and common sense. But it is an example of how the mayor can use the powers of incumbency to sway voters during the general election.
