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Queens assemblyman Zohran Mamdani dismisses his hiring of staff with antisemitic social media histories as merely representing a “wide variety of political opinion,” sparking outrage among Jewish community leaders who see dangerous normalization of hate speech.
Story Snapshot
- Catherine Almonte Da Costa resigned after antisemitic posts about “money hungry Jews” surfaced
- Second staffer Hassaan Chaudhary also drew criticism for anti-Israel social media content
- Mamdani refuses to acknowledge vetting failures, calling controversies “political diversity”
- Jewish leaders question Mamdani’s commitment to fighting antisemitism given his own anti-Israel stance
Antisemitic Posts Force Immediate Resignation
Catherine Almonte Da Costa abruptly resigned from her position as Zohran Mamdani’s Director of Appointments after the Anti-Defamation League exposed her decade-old antisemitic social media posts. The posts from 2011-2012 included inflammatory comments about “money hungry Jews” and references to the “Jew train.” Her immediate departure highlights the severity of the content and its incompatibility with public service, yet raises serious questions about Mamdani’s vetting process for key appointments.
Pattern of Controversial Staffing Decisions Emerges
The Da Costa incident represents part of a troubling pattern within Mamdani’s transition team rather than an isolated oversight. Hassaan Chaudhary, another team member, faced criticism for his own anti-Israel social media posts, suggesting systemic failures in screening potential staff members. This pattern indicates either deliberate indifference to antisemitic content or catastrophic negligence in the hiring process, both of which should concern voters who expect basic competence from their elected officials.
Mamdani Deflects Responsibility With Absurd Excuse
Rather than acknowledging clear vetting failures, Mamdani characterized these staffing controversies as reflecting a “wide variety of political opinion.” This response demonstrates a stunning inability to distinguish between legitimate political diversity and outright antisemitic hate speech. His deflection suggests either profound tone-deafness or tacit approval of such views, neither of which inspires confidence in his leadership capabilities or commitment to representing all constituents fairly.
Jewish Community Leaders Express Deep Skepticism
Jewish leaders remain highly skeptical of Mamdani’s commitment to combating antisemitism, particularly given his own history of criticizing Israel and refusing to condemn inflammatory phrases like “globalize the intifada.” His unwillingness to take responsibility for hiring decisions compounds existing concerns about his ability to represent Jewish constituents effectively. The transition team has since hired an outside firm to improve vetting processes, an admission that previous methods were inadequate despite Mamdani’s public dismissal of the concerns.