Top Mamdani Appointee Resigns After Antisemitic Posts Resurface

A senior appointee in New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration abruptly resigned Thursday after resurfaced social media posts revealed she made antisemitic and anti-police remarks more than a decade ago.

Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who had been tapped to serve as Mamdani’s director of appointments, stepped down after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of New York and New Jersey publicly condemned her old social media activity. The posts, reportedly made between 2011 and 2012 on a now-deleted X account, contained multiple references to “money hungry Jews” and “rich Jewish peeps,” and included one comment calling a Far Rockaway train “the Jew train.”

“Her social media footprint includes posts from more than a decade ago that echo classic antisemitic tropes and otherwise demean Jewish people,” the ADL said in a statement Thursday. “Tweeting about ‘money hungry Jews’ is indefensible. We appreciate Da Costa has relationships with members of the Jewish community, but her posts require immediate explanation not just from Ms. Da Costa, but also from the mayor-elect.”

Following the ADL’s statement, Da Costa deleted her X account and issued an apology, saying she had personally reached out to Mayor-elect Mamdani to express remorse for her remarks.

“I spoke with the mayor-elect this afternoon, apologized and expressed my deep regret for my past statements,” Da Costa told The Judge Street Journal, which first reported the story. “These statements are not indicative of who I am. As the mother of Jewish children, I feel a profound sense of sadness and remorse at the harm these words have caused. As this has become a distraction from the work at hand, I have offered my resignation.”

Mamdani accepted the resignation, saying in a statement to the outlet: “Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted.”

Da Costa had been appointed just days earlier to lead recruitment for Mamdani’s incoming administration, where she was tasked with identifying “top talent” for senior positions across city government. Her resignation marks the second major controversy to hit Mamdani’s transition team in less than a week.

Earlier this week, Mamdani defended his decision to appoint convicted armed robber Mysonne Linen to his transition team, calling it part of his “commitment to second chances.” Critics said the selection reflected poor judgment, particularly as Mamdani faces heightened scrutiny over his management decisions before taking office in January.

Da Costa previously worked in former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, where she helped oversee outreach for the city’s 2020 Census initiative. But her past social media comments appear to contradict the diversity and inclusion values Mamdani has pledged to uphold.

In addition to antisemitic remarks, The New York Post reported that Da Costa made derogatory comments toward law enforcement, including references to “NYPD piggies” and criticism of police officers’ salaries. The resurfaced comments drew swift backlash online, with both Republican and Democratic officials calling on Mamdani to take swift disciplinary action.

The resignation comes just days before Mamdani is scheduled to be sworn in as New York City’s next mayor — a milestone for the 33-year-old Democratic Socialist, who rose to prominence as a state assemblyman from Queens. Mamdani, who has drawn support from left-wing figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is already under fire from Jewish leaders who have accused him of tolerating antisemitic rhetoric in his political orbit.

Last month, a coalition of New York rabbis urged Mamdani to condemn the “Globalize the Intifada” slogan used at pro-Palestinian protests following the October terror attacks in Sydney. Mamdani’s office said at the time that the mayor-elect “rejects all hate speech” but stopped short of denouncing the phrase directly.

Da Costa’s resignation adds further turmoil to a transition process that has already faced internal upheaval and growing criticism from city officials. Her departure, less than two weeks before Mamdani takes office, underscores what some insiders describe as “a chaotic and politically charged start” to the new administration.

The ADL said it had no further statement following Da Costa’s resignation. Mamdani’s team did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment.