Elisha Wiesel Endorses Republican Challenger for NY Attorney General

Elisha Wiesel, son of the late Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, has endorsed Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy for New York State Attorney General, in a move that challenges the incumbent, Democrat Letitia James.

Wiesel, who chairs the Elie Wiesel Foundation, announced his support on social media, posting a photo with Komatireddy and stating, "The only way to stamp down on antisemitism in NYC is to prosecute it. I stand with @sarithaforny as she campaigns for the critical post of NY Attorney General!"

Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, expressed gratitude for the endorsement, asserting that the Attorney General has the authority to combat antisemitism, a duty she claims James has not fulfilled. "Jewish New Yorkers are being attacked on the street, outside their synagogues and at school," Komatireddy said. "The Attorney General has the legal authority to stop it. Letitia James hasn’t used it. I will."

Komatireddy's campaign released a statement criticizing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's strategy to combat antisemitism, with Komatireddy stating, "Funding for security and for NYPD hate-crime work is needed, but someone has to make sure that we take that case into a courtroom and win it. Hate crimes in New York have doubled under AG Letitia James and antisemitic incidents have tripled. Her record is indefensible."

According to Komatireddy's campaign, Jewish New Yorkers constitute about 12% of New York City's population but are the target of 57% of reported hate crimes this year, with hate crimes against Jews increasing.

Komatireddy previously served as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, handling cases involving international terrorism, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and public corruption. James, who is seeking a third term, has focused on prosecuting former President Donald Trump and his company for fraudulent practices and has initiated numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration. She also oversaw the investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo that led to his resignation.

A spokesperson for James defended her record, stating, "New York Attorney General Letitia James has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community at every step of her career. From fighting housing discrimination against Jewish families in Chester, holding price gougers looking to scam Jewish communities to account, to condemning antisemitism in all its forms, Attorney General James has been a steadfast ally to Jewish New Yorkers and she will never stop fighting to keep them safe from hate."