New York: NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaign allegedly accepted campaign funds from non-US citizens or residents, NDTV reported citing NY Post.
Mamdani's campaign is reported to have received nearly $13,000, meaning Rs 11 lakh, in contributions from people including his mother-in-law in Dubai.
Of around 54,000 contributions it received, about 170 came from people living outside the US.
It is reported that an investor living in Dubai identified as Ada Diaz Ahmed contributed $2,100, nearly Rs 1.74 lakh, in September to the campaign.
Of the foreign donations, they have not returned 88 donations adding up to $7,190, meaning nearly Rs 6 lakh.
When it was pointed out , Mamdani's campaign stated on Saturday that that donations that had had broken the rules would be returned.
‘We will, of course, return any donations that are not in compliance with CFB law,’ it reportedly said.
Campaign records reportedly showed that his campaign had raised Rs 33.2 crore from private donations and ‘Rs 105.4 crore in public matching funds’.
It is reported citing local media that the campaign, despite spending on ads, events, and staff, it has about Rs 50.6 crore on hand.
The amount that Mamdani raised is more than double that former Governor Andrew Cuomo collected in the same period.
Responding to the report, the Republican candidate for mayor Curtis Sliwa, said: ‘Where there's smoke, there's fire, so I would be very concerned. There is probably a lot more in terms of foreign money.’