A senior appointee in New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration resigned Thursday after decade-old social media posts resurfaced showing antisemitic and anti-police remarks. The resignation came just days after her appointment and immediately threw Mamdani’s transition process under heavier scrutiny.
Catherine Almonte Da Costa, chosen to serve as director of appointments, stepped down after the Anti-Defamation League condemned posts she allegedly made in 2011 and 2012. The deleted messages included references to “money hungry Jews,” “rich Jewish peeps,” and calling a Far Rockaway train “the Jew train,” prompting swift backlash from Jewish organizations and city leaders.
Da Costa deleted her X account and issued a public apology, noting she has Jewish children and insisting the statements no longer reflect her beliefs. Mamdani accepted her resignation, calling the episode an unnecessary distraction from the work of building his new administration.
The controversy marks the second challenge for Mamdani’s transition team in under a week, raising concerns about vetting and leadership judgment as his swearing-in approaches. With Jewish leaders voicing unease and political pressure mounting, the new administration faces early questions about stability and accountability.
