Fact Check: Did New York legislature issue an ultimatum to Kathy Hochul to remove Mamdani?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: According to a post on social media platforms, the New York State Legislature has issued an ultimatum to Governor Kathy Hochul to remove the city’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The post has sparked mixed reactions among online users, triggering speculation and concerns, prompting verification of the viral rumor.

Claim: New York legislature called for the removal of Zohran Mamdani

The claim surfaced on Facebook, accompanied by an article alleging that the state’s legislature has issued a formal ultimatum to Governor Hochul, demanding that she invoke “emergency municipal removal powers” to oust Mamdani within seventy-two hours. Failure to do so will lead to “immediate recall proceedings and possible legislative exile.”

According to the article, the alleged development is based on the Mayor’s “pattern of municipal chaos” and “excessive use of the phrase ‘communism,'” which has created a constitutional crisis that is “technically impossible but dramatically compelling,” according to legal scholars.  

Hochul allegedly pushed back, stating that no mechanism exists for the Governor to remove an elected mayor and clarified that “recall” is not provided for in the state’s constitution under any circumstances.

Fact Check: The claim originated from a parody account

The claim, however, is false, as there are no credible reports of New York’s legislature issuing an ultimatum to the governor to remove Mamdani by invoking emergency powers.

There are no official statements, press releases, or announcements from the legislature or the speaker that support the claim. A look at Hochul’s social media handles also reveals no posts that support the claim.

If the claim were true, it would not only be widely reported by prominent news media outlets but would have made headlines, given the sensationalism of the claim.

Moreover, the claim was posted by a popular Facebook parody account called ‘America’s Last Line of Defense,’ which describes itself in its bio as ‘Nothing on this page is real.’

Zohran Mamdani's grocery stores face ID controversy

The claim surfaced after Mamdani’s city-owned grocery stores' requirements drew allegations of hypocrisy from Republicans, who noted that the mayor has opposed voter ID requirements while the store requires some kind of identification for discounted goods.

The controversy was based on the announcement that the stores would offer roughly 30% discounts on essential food items.

When a reporter asked the Mayor about the concerns, he replied, “The programme is for New Yorkers to be able to put food on the table, not a programme for people to be able to make a quick buck through reselling.”