Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has formally requested that Attorney General Pam Bondi begin denaturalization proceedings against Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. In a letter sent Thursday, Ogles alleged that Mamdani, who recently gained national attention for defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, may have misrepresented facts during his citizenship application.
According to Ogles, a June 21, 2025, New York Post article revealed that Mamdani had previously expressed solidarity with individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses before becoming a U.S. citizen. This included public support for Palestine in his past rap lyrics, which Ogles claims could reflect affiliations with groups considered a threat to national security.
“The naturalization process depends on good-faith disclosure,” Ogles wrote. “If Mr. Mamdani concealed relevant associations, that concealment may constitute a material misrepresentation sufficient to support denaturalization under federal law.”
Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, Democratic State Representative Christopher Flanagan was arrested this week on federal charges of wire fraud and falsifying records. The 37-year-old lawmaker allegedly stole over $36,000 from the Cape Cod Home Builders Association (HBA), where he served as executive director in addition to his role as a legislator.
Despite earning over $180,000 combined from both positions, prosecutors say Flanagan was under significant financial strain, with overdue credit card bills, missed mortgage payments, and numerous overdraft fees. According to the indictment, he funneled money from the HBA into his personal accounts via five separate wire transfers between November 2021 and January 2023.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley condemned the conduct, calling it “an appalling breach of public trust.” She said Flanagan went to “extraordinary lengths” to hide his actions, even creating fake identities to mislead investigators.
Postal Inspector Ketty Larco-Ward echoed those concerns, saying, “No one is above the law, and elected officials will be held accountable when they betray the public’s trust.” Flanagan has pleaded not guilty and was released pending further proceedings.
