WASHINGTON — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing a fresh ethics complaint after a government watchdog alleged Tuesday that he used municipal resources to promote fellow New York Democrats, The Post has learned.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust is calling on the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board to investigate Mamdani’s public support for Gov. Kathy Hochul’s re-election campaign as well as Lindsey Boylan’s unsuccessful run for City Council.
“We write today to request you investigate Mayor Zohran Mamdani for using his official position and public resources for political activity,” the Washington, DC-based nonprofit said in its complaint.
FACT pointed to a 2009 advisory opinion from the board that warned New York City elected officials against relying on city resources when making candidate endorsements.
“Separating official activities from political ones is the foundation of sound ethics laws and imperative to maintain the public’s trust in government,” FACT executive director Kendra Arnold told The Post.
Arnold argued that when taxpayer-funded tools or the power of public office are used to shape elections, it can tilt the playing field toward those already in control. “Allowing this conduct to go unchecked and unpunished is a threat to the democratic process,” she said.
The complaint outlines three instances in which FACT claims Mamdani crossed ethical lines after taking office at Gracie Mansion in January.
The first cited episode was Mamdani’s February endorsement of Hochul, the Democratic governor seeking a second full four-year term, which he delivered during a press conference focused on universal childcare.
The socialist mayor had penned an op-ed giving the moderate gov his official stamp of approval. But during a press conference shortly after, he said of Hochul, “I’m proud to endorse her.”
The group also noted Mamdani’s endorsement of Boylan — the first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo of harassment — during an April press conference.
“The decision to endorse Lindsey is one that comes more from having seen her bravery and her courage in standing up over the years,” Mamdani said at the time. “Early voting will continue through the 26th. And it’s something that I’m glad to join my name to [support her].”
The complaint then cited his June press conference addressing a heat wave beating down on New Yorkers — where he gave his stamp of approval to eight candidates running in the Democratic primaries that month.
“I am looking forward to New Yorkers hearing about Claire, Darializa [and] Brad; [and] when it comes to the state legislator, Aber Kawas, Eli Northrup, Illapa Sairitupac, Samantha Kattan [and] Brian Romero,” he said then. “These are all candidates that I’m very excited about.”
FACT noted that in all three instances, Mamdani stood behind the seal of New York City and that his team put transcripts of those press conferences on the city website. The watchdog is urging the board to “impose the proper penalties” on him.
Mamdani’s predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams, was hit with a $4,000 fine from the board in February after his staffers put multicolored whistles on reporters’ chairs during a press conference last year to jab at the harassment accusations against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The mayor’s office didn’t return a request for comment.
