Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn hosted a phone bank for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday, drawing scrutiny from the Justice Department for potential foreign election interference.
Corbyn is a current member of the U.K. Parliament, and his work supporting the Mamdani campaign could be considered illegal.
“I’m hosting a phone bank with @nycDSA to Get Out The Vote for @ZohranKMamdani today at 6pm ET. Let’s get Zohran over the finish line for a New York that’s affordable for all!” he posted on X. The three-hour event is hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America but paid for by Zohran for NYC.
Phone-banking is a common campaign tactic where surrogates call voters to ask for their vote.
It’s unclear if Corbyn is calling voters himself or instructing volunteers on how to make calls. Corbyn is pictured on the phone-banking virtual call, according to the Forward.
Under U.S. law, it is illegal for a foreign national to indirectly or directly make “a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election.”
Corbyn appeared to have provided a service to DSA in an event paid for by the Mamdani campaign.
“Foreign interference in a US election?” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon speculated on X.
“I’m sure the John Brennan posse will get right on this with an indignant letter,” Dhillon said in a follow-up post, referencing the former CIA director’s Russian interference claim.
Stu Smith, an investigative analyst for Manhattan Institute, a right-leaning think tank, says Corbyn’s actions could be legal as long as he isn’t compensated.
“It’s technically legal under FEC rules as long as Corbyn isn’t compensated. Still, it’s a perfect example of how DSA, technically a 501(c)(4), keeps blurring lines with its ongoing collaborations and cross border ties to foreign parties. Makes you wonder how closely they’re tiptoeing around FARA,” he posted on X.
Corbyn’s DSA appearance in support of Mamdani also drew criticism because of his alleged past antisemitism. An Equality and Human Rights Commission report in 2020 said the Labour Party was responsible for “unlawful” harassment and discrimination during Corbyn’s time as leader.
Corbyn was suspended from the party after calling the report’s findings “exaggerated.”
CUOMO CLOSES GAP WITH MAMDANI, ALMOST MARGIN-OF-ERROR RACE: POLL
Mamdani’s campaign is scrambling to garner any last-second support in the New York City mayoral race, utilizing its DSA ties to get voters to the polls.
Corbyn has been a supporter of Mamdani, celebrating the New York politician’s Democratic primary win in June.