New York City:
One of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s recent appointees has resigned after social media posts she made more than a decade ago resurfaced and drew criticism for promoting antisemitic tropes.
Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who had been appointed earlier this week to lead Mamdani’s Office of Appointments, stepped down on Thursday following the circulation of old posts from 2011 and 2012 by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The posts, originally shared on X (formerly Twitter), were described by the advocacy group as echoing classic antisemitic stereotypes and demean Jewish people.
In a statement issued after her resignation, Da Costa expressed deep remorse over the comments and acknowledged the harm they caused.
“These statements are not indicative of who I am,” she said. “As the mother of Jewish children, I feel a profound sense of sadness and remorse at the harm these words have caused.”
Da Costa was set to oversee talent recruitment strategy for the incoming administration. According to the mayor-elect’s office, she previously worked in city government more than a decade ago and, in recent years, held positions at a private communications firm and the renowned auction house Sotheby’s.
Mayor-elect Mamdani confirmed that he accepted her resignation, stating that accountability was necessary.
“Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted,” Mamdani said through a spokesperson.
The ADL declined to comment further following Da Costa’s resignation, though it had earlier shared three of her tweets as part of what it described as ongoing monitoring of the mayor-elect’s administration.
After Mamdani’s election victory in November, the ADL announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at tracking and monitoring policies and personnel associated with his leadership. Mamdani has faced sustained scrutiny over his vocal criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with critics questioning whether his stance crosses into antisemitism.
During his campaign, Mamdani was criticised for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” though he has since said he discourages the use of such language and has emphasised his opposition to antisemitism.
Da Costa’s resignation marks one of the first personnel controversies for the incoming administration, which is set to take office next month.