Note: the portion of The Unknown on DA McMahon’s impending arrest of Rich Luthmann is above, find the full broadcast here.
The set-up
Richmond County, NY District Attorney (DA) Mike McMahon is a scaredy cat.
He admitted as much when he filed as a victim with the New York Police Department (NYPD), claiming to fear for his life when he received an automatic email from Rich Luthmann’s Substack: This is for Real.
On July 13, 2025, his official office email- Michael.McMahon@rcda.nyc.gov- received an automatic email from Luthmann’s Substack.
This was an article written by Dr. Bandy Lee and cross posted on This is for Real.
Most users who receive unwanted emails from Substack go to the top and hit the unsubscribe button.
McMahon isn’t an ordinary subscriber. He is the elected DA from Richmond County, NY and has been since 2016.
McMahon seemed to enjoy his subscription until July 13, 2025, as the backdoor statistics showed.
He’d been a user since June 20, 2025, and he signed up, according to the statistics.
On July 13, 2025, McMahon, not in his DA role but as a victim, travelled to the NYPD and complained.
The history
A decade ago, Richard Luthmann was a hotshot NY lawyer and law-chair of the NY Reform Party. He had accused McMahon in 2015 of voter fraud. Here’s more from the Frank Report.
In the same 2015 District Attorney race, Luthmann publicly supported Republican candidate Joan Illuzzi, criticizing Democratic contender McMahon for what he described as a lack of courtroom experience.
Luthmann also alleged that McMahon’s campaign had submitted fraudulent designating petitions, citing multiple signatures purportedly from deceased individuals. The Staten Island Advance reported on the controversy and described the petition issue as “fraud.”
Despite the allegations, McMahon won the general election and assumed office as Richmond County District Attorney in 2016.
Luthmann also created satirical websites mocking McMahon. McMahon appointed a special counsel who refused to prosecute, according to the Frank Report. So, McMahon appointed a second, who did charge Luthmann with criminal impersonation and falsification of business records.
Those charges coincided with numerous federal charges, in which Luthmann was accused of extortion, organized crime ties, and more.
Luthmann denied the charges when I first interviewed him.
Luthmann was represented by Arthur Aidala, who worked a deal and Luthmann spent four years in federal prison.
Along with his jail stint, McMahon got a ten-year protective order which expires in 2028.
The dubious charge
With that protective order in hand, McMahon went to NYPD and cried about receiving a Substack email.
McMahon did not respond to an email for comment. NYPD only stated, “The NYPD does not issue warrants.”
They didn’t disclose details about the investigation.
Mr. McMahon got special treatment. Rich Luthmann explained further on his site.
The new felony warrant for Luthmann’s arrest, issued without legitimate judicial review or probable cause, relies solely on McMahon and his underling’s word, Luthmann says.
That’s right—Staten Island’s top prosecutor filed a police report against a journalist, then had a subordinate NYPD cop type up charges, and a crony judge rubber-stamped it with no oversight.
“McMahon is acting as judge, jury, victim, and executioner,” said Luthmann. “If that doesn’t terrify you, it should.”
He calls it “Institutional Homicide by Lawfare.”
Diesel Therapy
Rich said he expects NY officials to use this bogus warrant to go to Florida and have Florida law enforcement arrest him.
Once arrested, he will be extradited and face diesel therapy.
This is derogatory term for a long bus ride from one state to another.
Luthmann has fought for other’s first amendment rights, now he will fight for his own.
