Mayor Zohran Mamdani Discusses Jailing Netanyahu at UN Assembly

State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein wrote a letter on Monday to Attorney General Letitia James requesting a probe into Mayor Zohran Mamdani's statements about arresting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the New York Post reported. Mamdani, 34, told the New York Times on Saturday that he believes Netanyahu belongs in The Hague and is having an active conversation about trying to jail the Israeli leader when he comes to Manhattan for the UN General Assembly in the fall.

During a housing-related press conference, Mamdani said Netanyahu is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, and called him the architect of the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza as Israel's prime minister.

Mamdani stated that these are facts of public record rather than his personal assessment. He added that his administration will follow all applicable local laws, and he reiterated that commitment on Monday. Eichenstein's letter notes that the United States does not recognize the International Criminal Court, which issued the warrant for Netanyahu's arrest.

The letter quotes New York penal law stating that a public servant who knowingly performs an unauthorized act and misuses their position to pressure law enforcement into making an arrest may be guilty of official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. The letter urges James to examine whether any New York State laws have been violated or if the actions constitute criminal official misconduct.