A group of House Republicans is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration over allegations that city officials may have violated the Logan Act by engaging in unauthorized communications with representatives of the Iranian regime.
The request, led by Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC), centers on reports that New York City’s Office for International Affairs scheduled a July 7 meeting between Commissioner Ana María Archila and Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, during a period of heightened U.S.-Iran diplomatic tensions. Lawmakers argue the timing of the proposed meeting raises serious national security concerns.
In their letter to the Justice Department, Republicans urged federal investigators to determine whether any actions taken by the mayor’s administration violated the Logan Act, an 18th-century federal law that prohibits unauthorized private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments involved in disputes with the United States. Although the law has rarely been enforced, lawmakers contend it remains an important safeguard against independent foreign policy efforts that could conflict with official U.S. diplomacy.
The lawmakers emphasized that negotiations with Iran remain at a critical stage and argued that local government officials should not engage in diplomatic discussions that could undermine the federal government's foreign policy objectives. They are asking the DOJ to review whether any communications or meetings between New York City officials and Iranian representatives crossed legal boundaries.
The request adds another layer of scrutiny to Mayor Mamdani’s administration as Republicans continue to raise concerns over the role local governments play in international affairs. Whether the Justice Department will open a formal investigation remains unclear.
The Logan Act, enacted in 1799, has been cited in political controversies for decades but has resulted in only two indictments in U.S. history, neither of which led to a conviction.
