As of mid-October 2025, CFB records showed 91 refunds totaling $5,723.50, with at least 88 donations worth $7,190 still unreturned at the time of earlier reporting. CRF Chairman Shaun McCutcheon called foreign funds “a threat to self-government,” urging immediate prosecution.

The Mamdani campaign has acknowledged the flagged donations and maintains that they are in compliance with campaign finance laws. Spokesperson Dora Pekec emphasized that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents living abroad are legally eligible to donate under federal, state, and city laws. “The Campaign has a rigorous compliance process in place,” Pekec told reporters, adding that refunds have and will be made.

In a statement, the campaign reported that 31 of the 170 donors proved their U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, with CFB deeming those contributions permissible. The remaining 139 were refunded. “Any issue regarding financial contributions has been resolved,” the campaign asserted, adding earlier: “We will of course return any donations that are not in compliance with CFB law.”

The allegations surfaced amid Mamdani’s $4 million private fundraising haul (plus $12.7 million in public matching funds), ahead of Tuesday’s election. The self-described socialist is heavily favored to defeat Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the latter of whom is running an independent campaign after losing to Mamdani in the primary.