Texas man indicted for allegedly sending death threats to New York City's Mamdani

The threats included a phone call where he allegedly claimed Uganda-born Mamdani was not welcome in New York. He also allegedly sent an email through Mamdani's website where he graphically wished the Democrat a "painful death."

By Misty Severi

Published: September 18, 2025 10:34pm

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Thursday announced that a Texas man has been arrested and indicted for allegedly sending death threats and other violent threats to New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani, the socialist Muslim frontrunner for New York City mayor, rose to prominence this summer after defeating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for their party's nomination.

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Jeremy Fistel sent multiple threatening and inflammatory messages to Mamdani in June and July. The threats included a phone call in which he allegedly claimed Uganda-born Mamdani was not welcome in New York. He also allegedly sent an email through Mamdani's website where he graphically wished the Democrat a "painful death."

“I’d love to see an [Israeli] bullet go through your skull,” the message read. “Would be even better if you had to watch your wife and kids murdered in front you before they end your pathetic miserable life…I hope you all die painful sudden deaths. Do us all a favor and kill yourself.”

Fistel was arrested in Texas last week and extradited to New York on Wednesday where he was arraigned on a 22-count grand jury indictment, NBC News reported.

“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,” 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."

Mamdani's campaign thanked the district attorney in a statement, claiming the man's threats were "all too common."

"We cannot and will not be intimidated by racism, Islamophobia, and hate," the campaign said. "Zohran remains steadfast in his conviction that New York must be a city where every single person — regardless of faith, background, or identity — is safe, protected, and at home.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.