Mamdani appointee resigns after decade-old antisemitic posts surface

NEW YORK — One of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s appointees has resigned over social media posts from more than a decade ago that featured antisemitic tropes, Mamdani’s office said Thursday.

Catherine Almonte Da Costa, tapped this week to join the incoming administration as head of the office of appointments, handling talent recruitment strategy, said she expressed deep regret for the posts, which date back to 2011 and 2012 and were recently shared online by the Anti-Defamation League. “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,” Da Costa said. Mamdani’s office confirmed that he has accepted her resignation.

Da Costa had been selected to lead Mamdani's Office of Appointments, which handles talent recruitment strategy for the incoming administration. The mayor-elect’s office said Da Costa worked in the office more than a decade ago and more recently held roles at a private communications firm and at Sotheby’s.

“Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted,” Mamdani said through a spokesperson. The Anti-Defamation League declined to comment after Da Costa’s resignation, but had previously shared three tweets from Da Costa that it said “echo classic antisemitic tropes and otherwise demean Jewish people.”

The ADL’s involvement came as Mamdani, who takes office next month, has faced scrutiny over his opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza and whether his stance could be interpreted as antisemitic. During his campaign, he drew criticism for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” though he has since said he discourages people from using it. Critics have urged greater transparency in staffing and vetting as the administration prepares to assume control of city agencies and policy.

The episode underscores ongoing scrutiny of public officials’ past statements, particularly as the administration seeks to demonstrate a commitment to inclusive governance and to addressing concerns from Jewish communities and allies as it maps its early agenda on domestic policy and city leadership.