Rep Andy Ogles calls for investigation into Zohran Mamdani's naturalization over potential support for terrorism

Rep. Andy Ogles has called for the Department of Justice to look into denaturalizing New York City Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who became a citizen in 2018, when he was 27 years old. He had been in the US since he was 7 years old.

"I write to request that the Department of Justice open an investigation into whether Zohran Kwame Mamdani, currently a candidate for Mayor of New York City, should be subject to denaturalization proceedings... on the grounds that he may have procured US citizenship through willful misrepresentation or concealment of material support for terrorism."

Ogles cites reports, such as a June 21 New York Post article, in which it was revealed that Mamdani "expressed open solidarity with individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses prior to becoming a US citizen." This referenced a rap in which Mamdani said, "Free the Holy Land Five/My Guys." Ogles notes that the Holy Land Foundation was "convicted in 2008 for providing material support to Hamas," yet Mamdani was praising their leadership.

Noting potential First Amendment concerns, Ogles noted that "if an individual publicly glorifies a group convicted of financing terrorism, it is entirely appropriate for federal authorities to inquire whether that individual engages in non-public forms of support—such as organizational afffiliation, fundraising, or advocacy—that would have required disclosure on Form N-400 or during a naturalization review."

Mamdani has also declined to reject the phrase "globilize the intifada," despite pro-Palestinian activists having undertaken to harm Americans, such as a man facing trial for chucking Molotov cocktails at elderly Jewish activists demonstrating for the release of hostages or a man who murdered two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. 

Ogles stated that with "expressions of admiration for individuals convicted of supporting terrorism, a troubling pattern emerges that warrants formal scrutiny."

Mamdani won the NYC Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday night, likely knocking former Governor Andrew Cuomo out of the race. Mamdani ran on a progressive, socialist platform advocating for rent freezes, free buses and childcare, community schools and community policing, city-run grocery stores, a $30 minimum wage, making NYC an LGBTQ sanctuary city, and fighting Trump.