CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig went off on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) for aiming to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it is a delusional fantasy with zero legal basis for actually being carried out.
Honig ripped the mayor’s ambition to shreds during an appearance on The Source With Kaitlan Collins on Monday night. Fill-in anchor Brianna Keilar asked him if Mamdani has the authority to arrest Netanyahu when he is expected to visit NYC in September for the U.N. General Assembly.
“Absolutely not. It is utterly ridiculous. For the mayor of New York City to even suggest that he might have the authority to order the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu or any visiting foreign head of state,” Honig said. “First of all, the mayor of New York City has zero law enforcement authority — he does not tell the Manhattan DA, the NYPD, who to arrest, who to indict.”
He quickly rattled off two more reasons why it has no shot of happening. Honig pointed out the arrest warrant for Netanyahu is from the International Criminal Court — which the USA is not a part of. The ICC’s warrant “has zero legal effect” in the States, he said.
“And finally, Brianna, the Constitution is quite clear that the conduct of foreign diplomacy, foreign affairs, is entirely up to the federal government,” Honig said. “It’s certainly not up to local and county governments in New York City or elsewhere.”
His answer followed Mamdani telling The New York Times last weekend his administration was looking at how to arrest Netanyahu when he comes to town. The socialist mayor initially vowed to arrest Netanyahu during his successful 2025 campaign in which he accused the prime minister of committing a “genocide” in Gaza.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani reiterated to The Times.
“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” the mayor added. “And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”
President Donald Trump on Monday said Mamdani’s plan was toast, posting Netanyahu will not be arrested “in any way, shape, or form” when he comes to the U.S.
Still, the mayor doubled down on his dream when speaking to reporters soon after. “When someone is charged with an International Criminal Court warrant, it’s something that should be taken seriously,” Mamdani said.
Honig — a former state and federal prosecutor — said Mamdani needs to stop wasting his time on it, though.
I know the mayor is having his best lawyers look at this right now,” he said. “Let me save them some time: You do not have the authority to do this.”
Watch above.
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