Published On 18 Sep 2025
Jeremy Fistel, 44, left the messages that suggested Mamdani should fear for his life in June and July, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, on Monday.
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The defendant told the assemblyman to return to Uganda before someone shoots him in the head, to watch his family, stay in touch with him every second until he leaves America, Katz said, and that he and his family deserve to perish.
There is no room for hatred or bigotry in our political discourse, and let me be very clear: we take threats of violence against any office holder very seriously.
The suspect allegedly wrote, “I’d love to see an Israeli military bullet go through your skull,” according to Katz’s office in a statement released through Mamdani’s website. Wouldn’t it be even better if you had your wife and kids killed in front of you?
Fistel was accused of 22 counts, each of which, if proven guilty, could lead to up to 15 years in prison.
Following the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10, there is growing concern about political violence in the United States.
Melissa Hortman, a top Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota, and her husband were killed in addition in June by a gunman.
Fistel entered a not-guilty plea in court in New York. He was later released without bail and was held for $30,000.
Todd Douglas Greenberg, a defense attorney, claimed Fistel did not directly threaten Mamdani when he used the words “hope” and “wish” in an Associated Press interview.
“No one is arguing that what my client allegedly said was accurate,” no one is seated here. According to Greenberg, it was “free speech,” even though it was unpleasant speech.
As he exited the courthouse, a local reporter captured footage of Fistel quickly running away from reporters wearing a pair of jeans and a black hoodie.
Numerous conservative lawmakers and activists were offended by Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic primary elections in New York City in June.
Mamadani promised to continue campaigning in the same manner ahead of the November general elections, telling the New York Times that he had received new threats following Kirk’s murder last week.
He claimed that it won’t alter how I move through the city I love.
On Thursday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the allegations made against Fistel.
No public servant, or any person, should be subject to hate or intimidation just because they serve their community or because they are who they are, according to Afaf Nasher, executive director of CAIR-New York.
Source: Aljazeera
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