Man Indicted After Making Death Threats Against NYC Mayoral Candidate, DA Says

NEW YORK CITY — A 44-year-old man was arraigned Thursday after allegedly making terroristic threats against New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, according to prosecutors.

Jeremy Fistel, of Plano, Texas, is accused of threatening Mamdani in a number of voicemails and emails sent to the assemblyman between June and July of this year.

"As alleged, the defendant threatened an elected official by leaving a series of increasingly alarming anti-Muslim messages with the office of Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. The defendant told the assemblyman to go back to Uganda before someone 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," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. "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."

Fistel was arrested on Sept. 11 in Texas and extradited to Queens. According to CBS News, Fistel told police that he had just wanted to express his political beliefs.

He faces four counts of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, among other charges.

The 44-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges. He was granted$30,000 bail and was ordered to appear in court on Nov. 19.

If convicted of the top charges, Fistel could face up to 60 years in prison.