Texas Man Arrested for Threatening NYC Mayoral Candidate

<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/09/18/multimedia/18met-mamdani-threats-fp-cgkt/18met-mamdani-threats-fp-cgkt-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale" alt="Zohran Mamdani speaks into a bank of microphones." width="600" height="400">

Jeremy Fistel, 44, of Plano, Texas, has been charged with making terroristic threats and aggravated harassment against Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Fistel was extradited from Texas and brought to Queens to face charges stemming from a series of threatening voicemails sent to Mamdani's district office in June.

The arrest comes at a time of heightened tension for public officials across the United States. Mamdani's campaign reported receiving the profane messages in June, prompting an investigation that led to Fistel's arrest. The specifics of the threats haven't been publicly released, but the charges indicate a serious level of threat.

This incident highlights the increasing concerns about the safety and security of public figures, especially during tense political climates. The impact of this event on Mamdani's campaign and the ongoing mayoral race remains to be seen, but the incident underscores the importance of protecting those in public service.