NYC mayor Mamdani faces backlash over mother’s Epstein party link: ‘You lied, Zohran!’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Protesters gathered outside Gracie Mansion to confront New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after newly released Department of Justice files linked his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, to a 2009 party hosted by Ghislaine Maxwell. The demonstration turned heated as several protesters accused the mayor of betraying their trust and lying to voters.

Videos circulating on social media showed people shouting and using megaphones outside the mayor’s official residence, repeatedly chanting “Shame” and calling Mamdani out by name. Many of those present claimed they had supported him during his campaign and felt blindsided by the revelations.

Protesters confront Mayor Mamdani outside Gracie Mansion

Groups of demonstrators stood outside Gracie Mansion, recording the protest on their phones and directing their anger toward the mayor. Several participants identified themselves as former supporters who said they had voted for Mamdani and actively campaigned on his behalf.

One protester shouted through a megaphone, “We voted for you, Zohran. We advocated for you, Zohran. You lied, Zohran!” Another voice joined in moments later, yelling, “You lied to us. Shame, Zohran!” The chants echoed outside the residence as the crowd demanded accountability.

Mira Nair’s name appears in Epstein-related email

The backlash stems from an email included in the latest DOJ document release that mentioned Mira Nair in connection with a party held at Maxwell’s Manhattan townhouse in 2009. The email was written by American publicist Peggy Siegal and described an after-party following a film screening.

According to the message, several high-profile figures were present at the gathering, including Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos. The email explicitly listed “director Mira Nair” among the attendees. The event reportedly took place one year after Jeffrey Epstein had been legally convicted of soliciting a minor. 

The email also referenced the film Amelia, which was directed by Nair, suggesting the party was tied to the movie’s promotion.

DOJ document release triggers renewed scrutiny

The documents became public after the Department of Justice released a massive trove of Epstein-related records on January 30. The disclosure was made under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by former President Donald Trump in November 2025.

The release included more than three million pages of material, along with over 2,000 videos and 180,000 photographs. The total public archive related to Epstein now stands at nearly 3.5 million pages, reigniting scrutiny of individuals connected to his social circle.

Political fallout grows amid voter anger

While the documents do not allege wrongdoing by Nair, the mention of her name has fueled political fallout for Mayor Mamdani. Protesters outside Gracie Mansion said the issue was less about legal guilt and more about trust and transparency.

Some demonstrators pointed to past public statements by Mamdani in which he positioned himself as a reform-minded leader, arguing that the revelations conflicted with the image he presented to voters. Others cautioned against assigning blame to the mayor for his mother’s associations, calling for restraint as more context around the documents emerges.

As videos of the protest continue to circulate online, the incident highlights how the latest Epstein file release is reshaping public conversations and placing renewed pressure on political figures with even indirect links to the case.