US Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s campaign has issued a cease-and-desist demand to a super PAC supporting three far-left congressional hopefuls, accusing the group of running a “false” advertising effort that “misrepresents” the five-term lawmaker’s record, The Post has learned.
Stanley K. Schlein, an attorney for Espaillat’s campaign, sent the warning to representatives of American Priority PAC, threatening legal action if the group does not take down a recent television spot that he says contains “factual inaccuracies” about the congressman’s work in Washington. The ad was designed to boost socialist challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
“Warning to New Yorkers: this is a public service announcement,” the 30-second commercial says. “Your representative, Adriano Espaillat, is cooperating with ICE. Voted to fund them to the tune of $7.6 billion. Said he trusted Donald Trump to do the right thing.
“This is a public service announcement. Vote Darializa to fight ICE, to fight for our families.”
In the letter, sent Monday and copied to both the Federal Election Commission and the New York Board of Elections, Schlein condemns the spot’s description of itself as a “public service announcement,” arguing it is instead a “paid political communication produced and distributed by a political action committee for the purpose of influencing an election.”
The complaint further alleges that the commercial “fabricated” a quote it attributed to a March report by The Intercept, while also falsely asserting that Espaillat “cooperated” with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and voted to fund the agency.
READ MORE: Mom’s Chilling Final Warning Before Husband’s Murder-Suicide Shocks Family
“The advertisement creates a materially false and misleading impression of his record,” Schlein wrote.
“At a minimum, viewers are led to believe that Congressman Espaillat voted in favor of the legislation ultimately cited as evidence that he ‘funded ICE’ when, in fact, he voted against its final passage.
“We hereby demand that you forthwith CEASE and DESIST such advertisement that perpetrate this false, misleading and corrupt messages or risk further legal action that will be taken against American Priorities PAC and those individuals that have authorized and facilitated their publicly disseminated statements,” wrote the lawyer.
American Priority PAC’s top backers include Hussein “Sam” Mahrouq, a pro-Palestinian businessman.
The super PAC announced earlier this month it plans to drop $2 million on TV, streaming and digital ads to boost Avila Chevalier and two other far-left congressional candidates backed by socialist Mayor Mamdani: Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez and ex-city Comptroller Brad Lander.
Avila Chevalier — who is challenging Espaillat in the primary for the 13th Congressional District that includes parts of northern Manhattan and the West Bronx — has faced furious backlash over a series of vile, since-deleted social media posts uncovered over the past few months.
It includes ones calling the US “a f–ing disgrace,” trashing cops and accusing veterans of committing “war crimes.”
American Priority PAC reps did not immediately return messages.
