Claire Valdez, a New York City socialist running to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez, is facing calls for a federal investigation after pledging to carry Mexico’s independence struggle into Congress and disclosing that she met with members of Mexico’s ruling left-wing party.
The controversy centers on a social media post in which Valdez invoked Mexico’s fight for independence and said she would bring that “fight” to Congress as New York’s first Mexican-American representative.
Logan Act Investigation Sought
Immigration attorney and columnist Alicia Nieves tweeted at Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, a former ambassador to Mexico, urging an investigation of Valdez under the Logan Act. The 1799 law criminalizes certain unauthorized efforts by private citizens to influence foreign governments in disputes involving the United States and is rarely enforced.
Nieves wrote that because Valdez is currently a congressional nominee rather than a member of Congress, and appeared to have discussed facilitating support contrary to current U.S. policy while describing the country as an “empire” that has “stolen from us,” she hoped the administration would review whether the communications warrant investigation under the Logan Act.
Valdez's Mexico Remarks
In her tweet, Valdez wrote, “215 years ago, Mexicans fought an empire that demanded our land and our labor. And we won.”
“I’ll carry that fight with me to Congress as New York’s first Mexican-American representative,” she pledged. “And I’m strengthened not just by Mexico’s history but its present.”
Valdez said she met “comrades” in the Morena Party who are “standing up to the empires and corporations that have always taken from us — and building a government for the working class. Viva la Independencia, Viva México!”
Fox News Digital reached out to Valdez and the Mexican government for comment. Morena could not immediately be reached.
Criticism and Campaign Context
Critics also pointed to Valdez’s father, Larry, and his connection to a company that helped construct a Texas immigration facility during the Obama administration. They argued the connection conflicts with her opposition to immigration enforcement.
Christina Pushaw, a top communications official for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, added, “This would be a great campaign for Congress in Mexico.”
Valdez, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 7th Congressional District, will face Republican community organizer Melvin Rivera and other candidates in the November general election. Fox News Digital also reached out to Rivera for comment on Valdez’s remarks.
Background on the Logan Act
The Logan Act was enacted in 1799 after the John Adams administration and congressional Federalists objected to Pennsylvania politician George Logan’s unauthorized trip to France, where he sought to ease tensions during the “Quasi-War.” Federalists feared private diplomacy could undermine the U.S. government’s foreign policy. Adams and his Federalist allies also viewed Logan’s actions through the partisan tensions surrounding the 1800 presidential race against Thomas Jefferson.
Democrats cited the Logan Act in connection with President Donald Trump after he publicly remarked, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing” in reference to his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton. Then-Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada suggested Trump had violated the Logan Act. The law has also been invoked against other public figures, including former Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, but no prosecution under the statute has resulted in a conviction.
Two men faced proceedings under the Logan Act but were never convicted. A grand jury indicted Kentucky farmer Francis Flournoy in 1803 after he advocated a separate Western United States allied with France. Jonas P. Levy was arrested and held to bail under the law in 1853 after writing to Mexico’s president.
