The Department of Justice (DOJ) is being asked to look into potential legal violations by New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s administration. The request comes from House Republicans led by Rep. Addison McDowell (R-North Carolina).
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche received the letter on Thursday after it emerged that high-ranking officials from Mamdani’s office had tried to set up unauthorized meetings with senior members of the Iranian government, which is currently at odds with the United States.
“We express our concerns regarding Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s recent actions,” McDowell wrote. “Media reports indicated that Ana Maria Alquila, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, arranged a meeting for July 7 with the Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani.”
Archila and two other officials were slated to meet with Iravani at 11 a.m. on that date, according to a screenshot of a calendar invite. City Journal verified this information through sources within the international affairs community, confirming the meeting’s scheduling.
Officials from the State Department corroborated that Archila had organized a meeting but noted it was canceled after federal agencies caught wind of it and clashed with Mamdani’s team. The exact issue at hand remained unclear.
State Department representatives reportedly had to clarify what acceptable conduct would be for Mamdani’s officials, and it was noted that Archila faced reprimand for not informing Mamdani about the meeting.
“As you know, negotiations with Iran are critical at this moment,” the letter stated. “The proposed meeting’s timing raises concerns that it could have posed significant risks to national security.”
House Republicans have requested that the Justice Department examine the Mayor’s Office for any possible breaches of the law. The law in question prohibits U.S. citizens from unauthorized negotiations with foreign governments involved in disputes with the United States.
“These actions by Mayor Mamdani and Secretary Archila represent a clear conflict of interest concerning U.S. strategic military operations in Iran and the wider Middle East, and merit further investigation,” the letter stressed, adding that the lawmakers were in support of President Trump’s efforts to fortify U.S. interests in the region.
“We acknowledge the delicate nature of ongoing peace negotiations and, thus, believe a formal investigation is warranted to ascertain whether Director Alchira has engaged in any unlawful activities or communications with Iran,” the letter continued.
The spokesperson for the mayor’s international affairs office commented that “this meeting did not take place and will not take place.”
Mamdani himself claimed during an unrelated press briefing that the proposed meeting stemmed from “requests received” within the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, and “was not initiated by that office.”
He also mentioned that his administration is currently updating protocols for handling meeting requests.
In a media statement on Friday, the State Department labeled it “unconscionable” for New York City officials to engage with the Iranian ambassador right now, expressing relief that the meeting was canceled.
“There are serious risks in undermining national security. The Mayor of New York should exercise greater caution and not interfere in our nation’s foreign affairs, especially when negotiations with Iran intensify,” McDowell stated.
“The DOJ needs to investigate Mr. Mamdani’s office to confirm they are not acting as rogue agents against U.S. national security,” he asserted. “Mr. Mamdani does not represent our country. President Trump earned public trust by prioritizing the safety and security of the United States.”
Archila is known as a progressive activist who appeared on Breitbart News. She previously gained visibility when she confronted then-Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) about his support for Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also supported Archila, who attended Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address as a guest.
Alchila had limited experience in international affairs before joining Mamdani’s administration in February. Instead, she became known as a joint executive officer at the Soros-funded Center for People’s Democracy (CPD) and co-held leadership roles in various progressive organizations, including the Working Families Party.
