Espaillat Unleashes Legal Threat on PAC Over Deceptive ICE Ads for Radical Challenger

US Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s campaign is not holding back, slapping a super PAC with a cease and desist letter over a “false” ad campaign that distorts the congressman’s record. The aggressive move targets American Priority PAC, which is bankrolling far-left congressional candidates.

Stanley K. Schlein, the congressman’s campaign lawyer, sent a letter threatening legal action unless the PAC pulls a TV ad filled with “factual inaccuracies” about Espaillat’s actions in Congress. This ad aims to boost socialist challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier ahead of the Democratic primary.

The 30-second ad kicks off with a stark warning: “Warning to New Yorkers: this is a public service announcement.” It accuses Espaillat of cooperating with ICE and claims he voted to fund the agency with $7.6 billion, while also stating he trusted Donald Trump.

The ad continues, “This is a public service announcement. Vote Darializa to fight ICE, to fight for our families.”

Schlein’s letter, sent Monday and copied to the Federal Election Commission and the New York Board of Elections, blasts the ad for masquerading as a “public service announcement” when it’s actually a “paid political communication” designed to sway voters.

The letter also accuses the ad of fabricating a quote attributed to a March report in The Intercept and falsely asserting that Espaillat “cooperated” with and voted to fund ICE.

“The advertisement creates a materially false and misleading impression of his record,” Schlein stated bluntly.

He pointed out that viewers are misled into believing Espaillat supported legislation that funded ICE when he actually voted against its final passage.

“We hereby demand that you forthwith CEASE and DESIST such advertisement that perpetrate this false, misleading and corrupt messages or risk further legal action that will be taken against American Priorities PAC and those individuals that have authorized and facilitated their publicly disseminated statements,” Schlein warned.

American Priority PAC is backed by Hussein “Sam” Mahrouq, a pro-Palestinian businessman. The super PAC recently announced plans to spend $2 million on ads to promote Avila Chevalier and two other far-left candidates supported by socialist Mayor Mamdani: Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez and ex-city Comptroller Brad Lander.

Avila Chevalier is challenging Espaillat in the primary for the 13th Congressional District, which includes parts of northern Manhattan and the West Bronx. She has faced intense backlash over disturbing social media posts that have since been deleted, including ones labeling the US as “a f–ing disgrace,” attacking law enforcement, and accusing veterans of committing “war crimes.”

American Priority PAC representatives did not respond to requests for comment.