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New York Mayor Photographed at Event Hosted by Epstein Associate as Justice Department Records Released
A photograph showing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending a high-profile luncheon organized by Peggy Siegal, a publicist with ties to Jeffrey Epstein, has emerged following the release of newly unsealed Justice Department records that also reference his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair.
The image, dated November 15, 2017, captures Mamdani smiling at Universal Pictures’ “Get Out” promotional luncheon at Lincoln Ristorante in Manhattan. The event was hosted by Siegal, a once-influential Hollywood publicist who later faced significant industry backlash over her extensive social connections to Epstein.
The photo’s emergence coincides with the Justice Department’s ongoing release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein and his convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The latest batch, made public on January 30, 2026, includes a 2009 email where Siegal wrote to Epstein about an after-party for the film “Amelia,” which Nair had directed.
According to the correspondence, the gathering took place at Maxwell’s Manhattan townhouse and included high-profile attendees such as former President Bill Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Nair herself. The documents merely document attendance and do not allege any misconduct by those named.
In the 2017 luncheon photo, Mamdani appears alongside actor Daniel Kaluuya, filmmaker Shimit Amin, and his mother, Nair, at what was clearly an A-list industry event celebrating Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” which would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Additional images from the event show Peele, producer Jason Blum, actress Allison Williams, and Siegal, underscoring the luncheon’s prominence during Hollywood’s awards season. Another photograph from December 2016 shows Nair attending a private-residence film event with Siegal for “Queen of Katwe.”
At the time of these events, Siegal was a dominant figure in entertainment publicity, renowned for her connections to major studios, top talent, and industry power brokers. Her reputation took a severe hit in 2019 when reporting detailed her association with Epstein, leading multiple Hollywood studios—including Netflix, FX, and Annapurna Pictures—to terminate their relationships with her.
Nair, an internationally acclaimed director known for films including “Salaam Bombay!,” “Monsoon Wedding,” “The Namesake,” and “Queen of Katwe,” has long been a fixture in elite film circles, particularly in Manhattan. She is married to academic Mahmood Mamdani.
The context surrounding these photographs is part of the broader fallout from the Epstein scandal. Epstein was initially arrested in Florida in 2006 on charges of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. He later pleaded guilty, served 13 months in jail with work release privileges, and registered as a sex offender.
In 2019, Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence following her conviction for sex trafficking.
The Justice Department’s release of Epstein-related documents follows President Trump’s signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, which has resulted in millions of pages being made public. These records detail Epstein’s extensive social and professional network but do not necessarily allege criminal wrongdoing by those mentioned.
Neither Mamdani’s office nor Siegal has responded to requests for comment regarding the photographs and their context within the broader Epstein document release.
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18 Comments
The resurfaced photo is certainly troubling and raises valid questions about the mayor’s judgment and associations. Transparency and accountability should be the top priorities in addressing this issue.
While the mayor’s presence at this event is concerning, I think it’s important to avoid jumping to conclusions. The released documents provide some context, but more information is needed to fully understand the situation.
This is a complex issue that deserves careful scrutiny. The mayor’s connections to individuals associated with Epstein are concerning, but we should avoid rushing to judgment until all the details are known.
While the mayor’s presence at this event is concerning, I think it’s important to avoid jumping to conclusions. The released documents provide some context, but more information is needed to fully understand the situation.
This is a complex issue that deserves careful scrutiny. The mayor’s connections to individuals associated with Epstein are concerning, but we should avoid rushing to judgment until all the details are known.
This is a complex issue that deserves careful scrutiny. The mayor’s connections to individuals associated with Epstein are concerning, but we should avoid rushing to judgment until all the details are known.
While the mayor’s attendance at this event is troubling, I think we need to be cautious about making sweeping conclusions without all the facts. The released documents provide some context, but more investigation is warranted.
That’s a fair point. The mayor should cooperate fully with any inquiries to shed light on the situation and reassure the public.
While the mayor’s presence at this event is concerning, I think it’s important to avoid jumping to conclusions. The released documents provide some context, but more information is needed to fully understand the situation.
This is a concerning development. The mayor’s association with individuals linked to Epstein raises serious questions about his judgment and ethics. More transparency is needed to fully understand the extent of these connections.
Agreed, the mayor needs to address this issue head-on and provide a clear explanation for his presence at this event.
The resurfaced photo is certainly troubling and raises valid questions about the mayor’s judgment and associations. Transparency and accountability should be the top priorities in addressing this issue.
While the mayor’s presence at this event is concerning, I think it’s important to avoid jumping to conclusions. The released documents provide some context, but more information is needed to fully understand the situation.
The resurfaced photo is certainly troubling and raises valid questions about the mayor’s judgment and associations. Transparency and accountability should be the top priorities in addressing this issue.
This is a complex issue that deserves careful scrutiny. The mayor’s connections to individuals associated with Epstein are concerning, but we should avoid rushing to judgment until all the details are known.
The resurfaced photo is certainly troubling and raises valid questions about the mayor’s judgment and associations. Transparency and accountability should be the top priorities in addressing this issue.
This is a complex issue that deserves careful scrutiny. The mayor’s connections to individuals associated with Epstein are concerning, but we should avoid rushing to judgment until all the details are known.
Agreed, it’s important to approach this with an open mind and let the facts guide the discussion, rather than jumping to conclusions.