Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order recognizing 9/11 on Friday at City Hall, and then handed the symbolic pen to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, who once represented an al-Qaeda terrorist with links to the attack on the Pentagon. Administration officials had gathered for a pair of executive orders ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, establishing a Day of Remembrance and bolstering security against future terror threats.
Ceremony at City Hall and the Handoff of the Pen
After signing the documents, Mayor Mamdani handed the ceremonial pen to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and whispered, “Can you pass this?” According to the NYC Mayor’s Office, Mamdani asked Tisch to pass the 9/11 pen to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem. Tisch awkwardly handed it to Kassem before hurrying out of the Blue Room as the first official to exit the press conference.
Kassem, who had just snuck into the press conference late, was seen on video smirking as he received the symbolic pen. The 48-year-old top aide founded a CUNY legal clinic offering free legal representation to Muslims, and previously defended Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia who was detained by ICE.
Background of Ramzi Kassem and Prior Legal Representation
Following a conviction for his involvement in the Middle Eastern attack on a French oil tanker in 2002—which formed part of a post-9/11 al-Qaeda strategy directed against the worldwide petroleum market—al-Darbi was transferred to Guantánamo Bay. Additionally, Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the hijackers aboard the aircraft that struck the Pentagon on 9/11, was married to al-Darbi’s sister.
Elected officials and critics reacted sharply to Kassem’s involvement in the ceremony. Council Member Joann Ariola of Queens called the mayor’s stunt “breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful,” stating it shows where his loyalties lie. Council Member Vicki Paladino of Queens seethed that Kassem’s participation is an insult to every New Yorker who survived that day and all Americans.
Did You Know? Ramzi Kassem founded a legal clinic at CUNY that offers free legal representation to Muslims and previously defended al-Qaeda operative Ahmed al-Darbi, who was convicted in the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker.
Reactions From 9/11 Families and Public Figures
Dennis Warchola, whose firefighter brother Michael Warchola of Ladder 5 was killed in the North Tower, slammed the action as bullsh–. Warchola asked how anyone could defend a figure associated with individuals who want to harm Americans or innocent people. Former Democratic political consultant David Sivella also blasted the move on X, questioning whether it was deliberate.
Michael Alazar, a retired detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told reporters that the move was calculated. Alazar noted that the ceremony was meant to be about the victims, and that Commissioner Jessica Tisch was reduced to a prop rather than being acknowledged as the leader of the NYPD.
Frequently Asked Questions
What executive orders did Mayor Mamdani sign?
Mayor Mamdani signed a pair of executive orders ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, establishing a Day of Remembrance and beefing up security against future terror threats.
Who received the symbolic pen after the signing?
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch initially received the ceremonial pen before passing it to the mayor’s chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, at the mayor’s request.
Who is Ramzi Kassem?
Ramzi Kassem is the 48-year-old chief counsel and top aide to Mayor Mamdani who previously represented al-Qaeda operative Ahmed al-Darbi and founded a CUNY legal clinic offering free legal representation to Muslims.
How do City Hall officials respond to the public criticism?
City Hall and Kassem did not immediately return requests for comment regarding the incident.
How will local leaders and victims’ families respond to these developments in upcoming municipal proceedings?
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