Mamdani Faces Ethics Probe Over Campaign Endorsements

A Washington-based watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust urges city officials to investigate the mayor for using public resources for political activity. This action follows three specific instances where the mayor backed Democratic candidates during official press conferences.

The Complaint Details

The complaint cites a 2009 board opinion that warns politicians against using city assets to endorse candidates. Channelling public assets to sway politics grants the ruling party or person an obvious and unjust edge. This quote comes from Kendra Arnold, the executive director of the watchdog group. She told The New York Post that separating official duties from political ones is vital for public trust. The group claims the mayor violated these rules by endorsing candidates while addressing city business.

First, the mayor endorsed Governor Kathy Hochul for re-election during a press conference on universal childcare. He stated, “I’m proud to endorse her.” He also backed Lindsey Boylan for City Council during an April event about childcare data. Mamdani remarked then that choosing to back Lindsey stemmed largely from witnessing her steadfast bravery and courage over the years. The complaint notes he gave his approval to eight other candidates in June during a heat wave briefing.

Leadership Stands By

Mayor Mamdani has also faced criticism for defending Gustavo Gordillo, the co-chair of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Gordillo is under fire for claiming to be a working-class union member while living in a $1.5 million home. The mayor refused to call for Gordillo to resign despite reports that the leader misled the media about his background. According to reports, Mamdani stated the ‘D’ in DSA represents Democratic, leaving the selection of leaders to the organization’s own vote.

Gustavo Gordillo earned a master’s degree in sculpture from the Yale School of Art. Property records show his father bought the family home in 2019 for $935,000. The home is now worth around $1.5 million in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn. Gordillo stopped claiming to be an electrician with the IBEW Local 3 union in 2024. He now refers to himself as a nonspecific union worker without proof of completing the seven-year journeyman process.

Next Steps for the Board

The Conflicts of Interest Board now holds the complaint and must decide whether to launch a formal probe. The watchdog group warns that allowing this conduct to go unchecked threatens the democratic process. Failing to punish or check such behavior endangers the democratic process. Arnold stated that these rules exist to keep government honest for everyone. The board has not yet announced a date for a hearing or a decision on the investigation.

The mayor’s office has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations in the letter. The complaint remains the primary document outlining the alleged violations of city ethics laws. Officials must now determine if the mayor’s words at these press conferences crossed the line into political campaigning. The public will wait to see if the board takes action based on these three reported incidents.