A hidden camera has exposed startling comments from a key figure in a New York City mayoral campaign, igniting a firestorm of debate.
On Oct. 17, 2025, video clips released by conservative podcaster Steven Crowder captured Robert Akleh, citywide canvass manager for Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, dismissing NYPD opinions and making contentious statements about political strategies and societal elites, complicating Mamdani’s efforts to bridge diverse political factions, as New York Post reports.
Akleh, a progressive consultant previously tied to campaigns for DSA Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was recorded at various bars and locations during August and September 2025. His blunt remarks targeted law enforcement, wealthy individuals, and certain Democratic leaders, revealing a stark ideological stance.
In the footage, Akleh scoffed at police views on Mamdani, stating they should simply obey orders as city workers. “Who gives a s–t what they think?” he told an undercover operative, per the released clips. From a conservative angle, this cavalier attitude toward law enforcement raises serious questions about respect for those who protect public safety.
Akleh didn’t stop there, venting frustration at billionaires for failing to grasp public resentment and even alluding to a high-profile violent incident in Midtown involving a corporate executive’s murder. Such rhetoric paints a troubling picture of class hostility that conservatives might argue fuels division rather than solutions.
He also took aim at establishment Democrats, particularly those backing certain foreign policy positions, while outlining a voter outreach plan focused on specific community hubs like mosques. This included using Imams to mobilize turnout and deploying diverse volunteers to distribute materials, a strategy some might view as narrowly targeted.
Akleh boasted of leveraging Mamdani’s 60,000-strong volunteer base to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul into endorsing the candidate by threatening a primary challenge. “She gets it. She’s not stupid. She gets it,” he said about Hochul, as captured in the footage. From a right-leaning perspective, this smacks of strong-arm tactics over genuine coalition-building, a questionable path to governance.
He further claimed endorsements from key figures like Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and state Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester), predicting the state Senate would soon align. This assertion of growing influence suggests an aggressive push to dominate state politics, which conservatives might see as prioritizing ideology over broad representation.
Meanwhile, Mamdani himself has been navigating a dual path, energizing his core supporters while reaching out to business magnates from groups like the Partnership for New York and centrist Democrats such as Mike Bloomberg and Hakeem Jeffries. Since his unexpected primary triumph in June 2025, he’s also apologized on Fox News this week for past 2020 social media posts criticizing the NYPD harshly.
The released footage contrasts sharply with Mamdani’s recent overtures to law enforcement and establishment figures, groups Akleh evidently disdains. This discrepancy highlights a potential rift between campaign messaging and internal attitudes, a concern for voters seeking consistency.
Mamdani’s campaign, still retaining Akleh, minimized his role on Oct. 17, 2025, labeling him a “junior” staffer whose words don’t reflect the candidate’s vision. A campaign insider clarified Akleh isn’t privy to top-tier policy talks, despite finance records showing he’s been paid about $40,000 this cycle.
“One of our junior staff members was secretly recorded by a right-wing organization, where he made some regretful comments absolutely not reflective of Zohran or the campaign,” said spokesperson Dora Pekec. Conservatives might raise an eyebrow—can a campaign truly disown sentiments from a key organizer so easily, or does this signal deeper ideological conflicts?
Gov. Hochul’s office opted not to comment on the unfolding controversy, leaving unanswered questions about the endorsements Akleh touted. This silence may fuel speculation about the true extent of political leverage at play behind closed doors.
From a right-leaning view, Akleh’s unguarded remarks expose a radical undercurrent that clashes with the public safety priorities many New Yorkers hold dear. If Mamdani seeks to lead a diverse city, distancing from such divisive rhetoric must be more than lip service.
As this footage reverberates, it underscores the tightrope campaigns walk between energizing a base and appealing broadly. For conservatives, it’s a cautionary tale—progressive agendas pushed too far might alienate the very voters needed for victory, proving once again that actions speak louder than apologies.
