A shocking new investigation led by forensic expert Sam Antar has uncovered what he describes as a sophisticated financial operation, hidden behind the facade of grassroots activism, that potentially violates campaign finance laws.
The investigation centers on Zohran Mamdani, a rising political figure in New York City, whose campaign, according to Antar’s findings, has been heavily funded by wealthy elite donors through a complex system of tax-exempt charities and nonprofit organizations.
Mamdani, a progressive candidate who has garnered significant attention for his political stances, may have unwittingly become a pawn in a larger game of financial manipulation, one that is said to manipulate both taxpayer money and substantial private donations.
In his detailed analysis, Antar reveals a network of charities that allegedly function as fronts for a coordinated political operation. These organizations, while claiming to engage in philanthropic work, are said to engage in what Antar terms "grassroots laundering," a strategy that seeks to bypass campaign finance laws by funneling money from charitable donations into political campaigns.
According to Antar’s investigation, the process begins with wealthy donors contributing to nonprofit organizations that enjoy tax exemptions. These charitable entities, such as Make the Road New York, receive government grants, making them the recipients of taxpayer money.
These grants are then allegedly funneled into political campaigns through affiliated organizations that are designed to bypass the legal restrictions imposed on charities and nonprofits.
Antar suggests that these activities, while operating within the legal limits in appearance, are in fact part of a well-crafted strategy to manipulate campaign finance rules and concentrate political power in the hands of the elite.
Antar’s claims are centered on the notion that the system in place is not simply a series of coincidental or isolated actions but part of a deliberate, coordinated effort to exploit loopholes in the law.
The investigative expert notes that the entire left-wing political infrastructure created through such schemes is not only “undermining democracy” but also constitutes an illegal operation under tax codes meant to prevent such abuses.
A key example in Antar’s findings revolves around the nonprofit organization Make the Road New York, which has received millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded grants.
In 2023, this organization was awarded over $16 million in government funds. Although charities like Make the Road New York are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity, the organization has an affiliated arm, Make the Road Action, which is allowed to participate in political advocacy and electoral activities.
This connection, Antar argues, blurs the legal lines between charity work and political involvement, raising significant concerns over the misuse of charitable funds for political purposes.
The investigation also touches on the interaction between Make the Road Action and other political entities. In June 2025, for example, Make the Road Action transferred $46,000 to the Working Families Party National PAC, an amount earmarked for “Phone Bank Services,” a clear indication that funds are being used to bolster political campaigns.
Antar highlights this transaction as a major red flag, signaling a violation of the legal independence that should be maintained between tax-exempt groups and political organizations.
The fact that this transfer occurred from a nonprofit to a PAC designed for electoral purposes underscores the troubling relationship between the charitable and political spheres.
What makes this situation even more disturbing, according to Antar, is the financial structure behind Mamdani’s campaign. His 2023 election bid raised funds from a variety of sources, but the contributions from Political Action Committees (PACs) vastly exceeded those from Mamdani’s own fundraising efforts.
In fact, the PAC money seemingly drove the financial success of Mamdani’s campaign, implying that the support for his political candidacy was not as organic as it may have appeared.
This suggests that powerful forces, masked under the guise of grassroots support, may have been orchestrating Mamdani’s rise, effectively distorting the democratic process and shifting the balance of power toward the elite donors behind these PACs.
The key concern in Antar’s investigation is the potential for these types of financial operations to undermine the integrity of political campaigns and elections.
While the law demands transparency and fairness in campaign financing, schemes like the one Antar describes manipulate those rules to benefit wealthy donors and powerful political figures.
As Antar warns, these practices could mislead voters into believing they are supporting a grassroots movement when, in reality, it is a carefully engineered system backed by elite interests.
This distortion of the political process, Antar argues, could have long-lasting consequences, both for the trust voters place in the system and for the future of democratic governance.
The investigation has led to widespread calls for an official inquiry into these financial practices. Antar himself has filed a whistleblower complaint with the IRS, urging a formal investigation into the financial activities surrounding Zohran Mamdani’s campaign.
The complaint highlights not only the legal violations allegedly taking place but also the broader ethical implications for the city’s political landscape. If the claims are substantiated, the operation described by Antar could lead to serious consequences for Mamdani’s political career, as well as for the organizations and donors involved in this alleged scheme.
As the investigation continues to unfold, both legal experts and political analysts are questioning the degree to which this issue could impact New York City politics.
Mamdani, once seen as a progressive leader pushing for significant reforms in the city, now faces the risk of his political legacy being tarnished by these revelations.
If proven, the connections between Mamdani’s campaign and wealthy donors operating through nonprofits could severely damage his credibility and alienate voters who may feel betrayed by a system that promised change but instead operated under dubious financial practices.
The broader implications of this investigation extend far beyond Mamdani’s campaign. The financial maneuvering described in Antar’s report reveals just how easily political power can be concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, undermining the core principles of democratic governance.
By exploiting nonprofit organizations and manipulating campaign finance laws, these elite donors can create a façade of grassroots support while bypassing the public will. Such practices have the potential to skew elections and make it more difficult for ordinary voters to have their voices heard.
The ongoing investigation will undoubtedly continue to make headlines, as it raises fundamental questions about the intersection of money, politics, and law. If authorities are able to uncover the full extent of the financial scheme surrounding Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, it could set a precedent for future cases of “grassroots laundering” in American politics.
The investigation also serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger oversight and stricter enforcement of campaign finance laws to ensure that the democratic process remains fair, transparent, and accountable.
As political figures like Zohran Mamdani face increasing scrutiny over their financial backing, voters and advocacy groups are calling for greater accountability in campaign financing.
The revelations about how elite donors have allegedly funded Mamdani’s campaign serve as a warning to all candidates and political organizations about the risks of allowing money to unduly influence the democratic process.
In the wake of these findings, it is clear that the fight for transparency in political funding is far from over—and the consequences of failing to uphold those principles could be far-reaching.
