AI-Generated Epstein Photos Falsely Link NYC Mayor to Scandal

Viral images depict Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child with Jeffrey Epstein, despite no evidence of connection

Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:23pm

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A series of artificial intelligence-generated images falsely portraying Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and other high-profile figures spread widely across social media this week, prompting renewed warnings about the speed and reach of AI-driven misinformation.

Why it matters

The rapid spread of these fabricated images highlights the growing threat of AI-powered disinformation campaigns that can quickly undermine public trust and unfairly target political figures. This incident underscores the need for stronger regulations and oversight around the use of generative AI technologies, especially in sensitive political contexts.

The details

The images, which were detected as AI-generated based on visible digital watermarks, depict Mamdani at various childhood ages posed with Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and other high-profile figures including former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. However, the timeline of the images does not align with reality, as Mamdani was 18 years old in 2009, the year Epstein was mentioned in an email related to an event attended by Mamdani's mother, filmmaker Mira Nair.

  • The images surfaced on Monday, February 4, 2026, after the Justice Department released a new tranche of Epstein-related files on Friday.
  • Mamdani was 18 years old in 2009, the year Nair was mentioned in an email from publicist Peggy Siegal to Epstein describing an afterparty for a film held at Maxwell's Manhattan townhouse.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, who was the target of the false AI-generated images linking him to Jeffrey Epstein as a child.

Mira Nair

A filmmaker and the mother of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was also depicted in the false AI-generated images alongside Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender and financier whose connections to high-profile individuals have been the subject of intense scrutiny.

Ghislaine Maxwell

A longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges related to Epstein's crimes.

Bill Clinton

The former President of the United States, who was also depicted in the false AI-generated images alongside Epstein.

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What they’re saying

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (Patch.com)

“We also have to work to ensure that we have a city, we have a state, we have a country that actually has a regulatory system when it comes to AI, because frankly what it looks like is a system that is ill-equipped for the speed and the reach of the technologies in front of us.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (Patch.com)

What’s next

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a ban on generative AI in political campaigns during her State of the State address earlier this month, and Mamdani said he has also discussed the use of AI in city schools with the schools chancellor, as the city's education department prepares to release new classroom guidelines later this month.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the urgent need for stronger regulations and oversight around the use of generative AI technologies, especially in sensitive political contexts, to prevent the rapid spread of misinformation that can undermine public trust and unfairly target elected officials.