Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing fresh criticism over a symbolic moment meant to honor the victims of Sept. 11.
After signing executive orders establishing 9/11 as New York City's annual Day of Remembrance and Service, Mayor Mamdani handed the ceremonial pen to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and asked her to pass it to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem.
That's where the controversy began. Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a Guantanamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty to war-crime charges tied to al Qaeda terror plots.
Al-Darbi's sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the five hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which was flown into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
The connection has put Kassem's role in the ceremony under a microscope. And the timing couldn't be more sensitive.
The controversy comes just days before the country marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
The handoff quickly drew criticism online, with opponents arguing that Kassem's past legal work made the symbolism difficult to ignore. Fox News first reported on the backlash, while the New York Post also reported that City Hall defended Kassem's involvement.
The explanation from City Hall was straightforward: Kassem and his team helped draft the executive orders as part of their work in the mayor's office. But the moment has nevertheless added to an already contentious debate surrounding Mamdani and the upcoming anniversary events.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Gov. George Pataki have publicly criticized Mamdani's planned participation in the 9/11 commemoration, while Mamdani has said he intends to attend and honor the victims, families and first responders.
The criticism has also sparked pushback, with some 9/11 families and elected officials arguing that the anniversary should not become a political fight. But the pen controversy has given Mamdani's critics something new to focus on.
The executive order was intended to send a clear message. New York will never forget.
Instead, the pen used to sign it has become a story of its own.
