New York Post
· collected 2026-09-05 · by Gabrielle Fahmy, David Spector
Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed two executive orders related to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 8, but handed the symbolic pen used for the signing to his chief counsel Ramzi Kassem, who has a history of representing individuals linked to terrorism. Kassem previously defended al-Qaeda operative Ahmed al-Darbi and was present at the press conference, where he received the pen while smirking in a video recording. The move has been criticized as "tone deaf" by some, including Dennis Warchola, whose firefighter brother died in the 9/11 attacks. Kassem is also seen on video receiving the pen about 15 minutes after arriving at the press conference.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 4770 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-05
Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order recognizing 9/11 Friday — and then handed the symbolic pen over to his controversial aide who once represented an al-Qaeda terrorist with links to the attack on the Pentagon.
asserted
who → sign → Pentagon
Administration officials were gathered at City Hall for a pair of executive orders — ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks — one establishing a Day of Remembrance and another beefing up security against future terror threats.
asserted
officials → gather → threats
After Mamdani signed the last of the documents, Hizzoner gave Police Commissioner Jessica Tish the ceremonial pen, and whispered, “Can you pass this?”
asserted
you → sign → this
Tisch awkwardly handed it to Mamdani’s chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, who just snuck into the press conference, before she hurried out of the Blue Room — the first official to exit the press conference.
asserted
she → hand → conference
“It’s bulls–t,” slammed Dennis Warchola, whose brother Michael, a firefighter with Ladder 5, was killed in the North Tower.
asserted
Warchola → slam → Tower
“How can you defend a guy like that who wants to do Americans or any innocent person harm?”
asserted
who → defend → harm
Kassem, a lawyer who famously represented al-Qaeda operative Ahmed al-Darbi, is seen on video smirking as he receives the symbolic pen.
asserted
he → represent → pen
Al-Darbi was sent to Guantánamo Bay after he was convicted of terrorism in the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker in the Middle East — part of an al Qaeda plot to attack the global oil trade after 9/11.
asserted
he → send → 9/11
His sister married Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the 9/11 hijackers of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.
asserted
that → marry → Pentagon
The 48-year-old Kassem, who founded a legal clinic at CUNY that offers free legal representation to Muslims, also defended Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia who was detained by ICE.
asserted
who → found → ICE
The controversial lawyer and top Mamdani aide wasn’t present during the press conference until the very end, when he snuck in some 15 minutes late — and made a quick exit, right behind Tisch.
asserted
he → sneak → Tisch
“It’s a bit tone deaf to be signing this 9/11 Executive Order with your Chief Counsel, Ramzi Kassem, a former al-Qaeda defense lawyer, in the shot,” blasted former Democratic political consultant David Sivella on X.
“
asserted
Sivella → ’ → X.
Or was it deliberate on your part to give your Muslim base a hint that this is all BS to pacify other New Yorkers?”
asserted
this → give → Yorkers
City Hall did not immediately return The Post’s request for comment.
asserted
Hall → return → comment
Mamdani asked Tisch to pass the 9/11 pen to his chief council, Ramzi Kassem, right.
asserted
Mamdani → ask → council
Tisch awkwardly handed the symbolic pen to Kassem, who smirked as he received it.
asserted
he → hand → it
Mayor Mamdani signed a pair of 9/11 executive orders Friday, one week before the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
asserted
Mamdani → sign → attacks
