Texas Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Threatening NYC Mayoral Candidate

<img src="https://images.axios.com/H_ogqmZXZGicloqbhL3yhe4P4h4=/0x0:6000x3375/1920x1080/2025/09/18/1758232123040.jpeg?w=3840" alt="New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani">

A Texas man, Jeremy Fistel (44), has been indicted on multiple counts of making terroristic threats and aggravated harassment, including as hate crimes, against New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The threats, delivered via voicemail and written messages between June and July, contained racist and anti-Muslim slurs and wished death and harm upon Mamdani and his family.

The Indictment Details

Fistel's indictment includes four counts of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime and other charges related to aggravated harassment. The messages were shockingly violent, with one example stating Mamdani "should go back to fcking Uganda before someone shoots you in the fcking head." Another message threatened harm to Mamdani's home and family, using highly offensive language.

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Arrest and Arraignment

Fistel was arrested in Texas on September 11th and extradited to Queens. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, stated that threats of violence against elected officials are taken extremely seriously and that there is "no room for hate or bigotry in our political discourse."

Key Messages in the Threats

• Racial slurs and anti-Muslim sentiments were prevalent throughout the messages.
• Specific threats of violence against Mamdani and his family were made.
• Threats were delivered through various mediums, including voicemail and written messages on Mamdani's website.