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By Gabe Whisnant

Breaking News Editor

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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 featuring antisemitic tropes, the mayor-elect’s office said Thursday.

Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who had been tapped this week to join the incoming administration, said in a statement that she deeply regretted the posts, which date to 2011 and 2012 and were recently circulated online by the Anti-Defamation League.

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Why It Matters

Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, has faced sustained scrutiny from some Jewish groups and political opponents over whether his criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza crosses into antisemitism. During the campaign, he drew criticism for declining to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” though he has since said he discourages its use and opposes antisemitism in all forms.

A majority of New York City Jewish voters backed Andrew Cuomo, a former Democrat running as an independent, in the mayoral race, with 63% supporting him compared with 33% who voted for Mamdani, according to a CNN poll released following Mamdani’s victory. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa received support from 3% of Jewish voters, the poll found.

What To Know

Da Costa had been selected to lead Mamdani’s office of appointments, a role responsible for shaping talent recruitment and staffing strategy for the new administration. She previously worked in the mayor’s office more than a decade ago and has more recently held positions at a private communications firm and at the auction house Sotheby’s, according to Mamdani’s office.

Mamdani accepted her resignation, a spokesperson confirmed.

The Anti-Defamation League declined to comment following Da Costa’s resignation. The Jewish advocacy organization had shared three posts attributed to Da Costa, saying they “echo classic antisemitic tropes and otherwise demean Jewish people.”

After Mamdani’s election victory in November, the group announced it was launching a new tool to track and monitor policies and personnel decisions made by the incoming mayor, who has been sharply critical of Israel.

What People Are Saying

Da Costa said in a statement, “These statements are not indicative of who I am. As the mother of Jewish children, I feel a profound sense of sadness and remorse at the harm these words have caused.”

Mamdani said in a statement, “Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted."