Recent revelations by forensic investigator Sam Antar suggest the political landscape in New York City may be less about grassroots activism and more about a concealed financial operation, termed “grassroots laundering.” In his detailed investigation, Antar sheds light on the rise of Zohran Mamdani, pointing to a network of tax-exempt charities and nonprofit organizations that allegedly manipulate taxpayer money and significant donations from wealthy benefactors for political gain.
Antar’s analysis indicates that these nonprofits are not merely philanthropic endeavors. Instead, they form a political machine built on a four-step cycle that distorts campaign finance laws. This cycle begins with donations to charities, which enjoy tax breaks, quickly followed by government grants that provide substantial funding. Subsequently, these charities transfer money to their political affiliates, engaging in campaign financing that seems concealed but operates within a meticulously coordinated framework. “The entire leftist campaign infrastructure is illegal under the tax code,” Antar asserts, underscoring the weight of his findings.
One critical example in Antar’s investigation is the nonprofit Make the Road New York, which in 2023 received over $16 million from taxpayer grants. While legally prohibited from taking a partisan stance, this organization has been linked to its political counterpart, Make the Road Action. The latter can participate in political activities, creating a troubling connection that blurs essential legal boundaries. “This seamless pipeline between supposedly independent entities is at the heart of the money laundering scheme,” Antar writes, emphasizing how the system enables political funding under a charitable guise.
Perhaps most troubling are the financial transactions involved. In June 2025, Make the Road Action transferred nearly $46,000 to the Working Families Party National PAC, an amount marked concurrently for “Phone Bank Services.” This suggests a blatant disregard for the legal independence required of tax-exempt groups. Additionally, contributions from an array of PACs during Mamdani’s campaign exceeded even his own fundraising efforts, implying a financial strategy more aligned with orchestration than organic support.
Antar’s findings highlight a broader concern regarding the integrity of political narratives. He warns that these operated schemes don’t merely contravene campaign finance laws; they actively undermine public trust in democratic processes. Voters may be misled into believing in a grassroots movement when, in reality, it is driven by elite interests concealed within charitable frameworks. With a whistleblower complaint now filed, calls for investigation by the IRS have intensified as concerns mount over the implications of such financial machinations on the integrity of city politics.
"*" indicates required fields
