Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the indictment of Jeremy Fistel, a 44-year-old Texas resident, on charges of making death threats against New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Fistel, who was arrested and extradited from Texas, faces 22 counts of terroristic threats and aggravated harassment, with potential imprisonment of up to 15 years.

The grand jury indicted Fistel on September 4, following a series of voicemails and written messages sent to Mamdani's office in June and July 2025. These messages contained increasingly severe anti-Muslim threats, including directives for Mamdani to "go back to Uganda before someone shoots him in the head," and warnings to "watch his back every second until he leaves America." Fistel also threatened the safety of Mamdani's family and home, according to DA Katz.

Mamdani's campaign released a statement expressing gratitude towards the DA's office for taking the threats seriously and highlighting the disturbing nature of such threats against public figures. "Unfortunately, threats of this nature are all too common and they reflect a broader climate of hate that has no place in our city," the statement read. The campaign reassured the community of the safety measures in place for both the Assembly Office and the campaign team.

Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim American, has been a member of the New York State Assembly since 2021, representing Queens' 36th district. His rise to prominence came after winning the Democratic primary for NYC mayor, a race in which former incumbent Andrew Cuomo conceded. Mamdani, known for his democratic socialist policies, has been a controversial figure in the political landscape, sparking debates and discussions on various platforms.

Fistel’s trial is scheduled to commence on November 19. This case has captured attention, underscoring the challenges and dangers faced by political figures amid a climate of increasing hostility and division.