Jeremy Fistel, 44, stands accused of allegedly leaving a sequence of voicemails threatening violence in opposition to Queens Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani and his household on his Meeting workplace telephone. In line with the Queens DA’s workplace, the threats started in June, whereas Mamdani was working within the Democratic major, and continued via July after he gained.
Picture by Dean Moses
The Queens District Legal professional’s workplace charged a Texas man on Thursday with making a “terroristic threat” as a hate crime in opposition to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee and a Queens Meeting member.
Particularly, Queens DA Melinda Katz alleges that Fistel instructed Mamdani to return to his native nation of Uganda “before somebody shoots him in the head, to keep an eye on his house and family, to watch his back every second until he leaves America, and that he and his relatives deserve to die.”
‘There is no room for hate or bigotry’: Queens DA
Costs are learn in opposition to Jeremy Fistel, who allegedly instructed Mamdani to return to his native nation of Uganda “before somebody shoots him in the head, to keep an eye on his house and family, to watch his back every second until he leaves America, and that he and his relatives deserve to die.”Picture by Dean Moses
The indictment comes amid a yr of political violence across the nation — together with, most just lately, the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah and the homicide of Minnesota Home Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, in June.
“Let me be very clear – we take threats of violence against any office holder extremely seriously – and there is no room for hate or bigotry in our political discourse,” Katz mentioned. “The defendant has now been extradited to Queens to face the serious charges against him.”
In a press release, Mamdani’s marketing campaign mentioned it might not particularly touch upon the main points of the costs.
“We are grateful to District Attorney Katz’s office for treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Unfortunately, threats of this nature are all too common—and they reflect a broader climate of hate that has no place in our city,” the marketing campaign mentioned. “We cannot and will not be intimidated by racism, Islamophobia, and hate. Zohran remains steadfast in his conviction that New York must be a city where every single person—regardless of faith, background, or identity—is safe, protected, and at home.”
In line with the Queens DA’s workplace, Fistel was arrested in Texas on Sept. 11 and extradited to Queens on Sept. 17.
Fistel, of Plano, TX, was arraigned in Queens County Felony Court docket on a 22-count indictment on Sept. 18. He faces fees together with 4 counts of constructing a terroristic risk as a hate crime, 4 counts of constructing a terroristic risk, seven counts of aggravated harassment within the second diploma as a hate crime and 7 counts of aggravated harassment within the second diploma.
If convicted on the highest cost, Fistel faces as much as 15 years in jail. Justice Michelle A. Johnson ordered that he be again in court docket on Nov. 19.
Fistel was launched after posting $30,000 bail. He refused to reply questions from New York News and different reporters as he walked out of the courthouse down Queens Boulevard.
Jeremy Fistel faces a barrage of reporters exterior Queens County Felony Courthouse on Sept. 18, 2025, following his arraignment on felony fees for allegedly making terroristic threats in opposition to mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.Picture by Dean Moses
Through the arraignment, Fistel’s protection legal professional, Todd Douglas Greenberg, mentioned he believes the case is “extremely weak.” He argued that Fistel’s feedback had been free speech.
“No one is sitting here arguing that what my client allegedly said is proper,” Greenberg mentioned. “It’s, quite frankly, it’s unpleasant speech. You can call it whatever you want, unpleasant, improper, but it’s free speech.”
Greenberg additional argued that Fistel’s alleged messages didn’t quantity to a terroristic risk as a result of they weren’t “specific” nor “imminent.”
“Wishing somebody did this to him, to Mamdani or whoever the subject was, hoping it happens is not a crime, at least not the top charge that allegedly carries 15 years in jail,” he mentioned.
