A senior appointee in New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration abruptly resigned this week after antisemitic social media posts resurfaced, sparking backlash just days before Mamdani is set to take office.
Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who had been selected to serve as Mamdani’s director of appointments, stepped down Thursday following condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey.
The posts, which date back more than a decade, were reportedly made between 2011 and 2012 on a now-deleted X account.
They included references to “money hungry Jews,” “rich Jewish peeps,” and one comment referring to a Far Rockaway train as “the Jew train.”
In a statement, the ADL said the posts echoed classic antisemitic tropes and demanded accountability not only from Da Costa but from Mamdani himself.
“Tweeting about ‘money hungry Jews’ is indefensible,” the ADL said. “Her posts require immediate explanation not just from Ms. Da Costa, but also from the mayor-elect.”
Shortly after the statement was released, Da Costa deleted her X account and issued a public apology, stating that she had personally contacted Mamdani to express her remorse.
“I spoke with the mayor-elect this afternoon, apologized and expressed my deep regret for my past statements,” Da Costa told The Judge Street Journal, which first reported the story. “These statements are not indicative of who I am.”
She added that as the mother of Jewish children, she felt “a profound sense of sadness and remorse” over the harm caused by her words and said she offered her resignation because the controversy had become a distraction.
Mamdani accepted the resignation, confirming in a brief statement that Da Costa had expressed remorse and stepped aside, as the Conservative Brief reported.
Da Costa had been appointed just days earlier and was tasked with recruiting senior officials for Mamdani’s incoming administration, placing her in a key role shaping the mayor-elect’s team.
Her resignation marks the second major controversy to hit Mamdani’s transition in less than a week.
Earlier this week, Mamdani defended his decision to appoint convicted armed robber Mysonne Linen to his transition team, calling it part of his commitment to “second chances.” Critics blasted the move as reckless, especially as Mamdani faces increased scrutiny ahead of his January swearing-in.
In addition to the antisemitic posts, The New York Post reported that Da Costa had also made derogatory remarks about law enforcement, including references to “NYPD piggies” and complaints about police salaries.
Those comments fueled further backlash online, with officials from both parties calling on Mamdani to take swift action.
Da Costa previously served in former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, where she worked on outreach efforts for the city’s 2020 Census. Her past remarks stand in sharp contrast to the diversity and inclusion values Mamdani has publicly pledged to uphold.
The controversy comes as Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), faces mounting criticism from Jewish leaders.
Last month, a coalition of New York rabbis urged him to condemn the “Globalize the Intifada” slogan used at pro-Palestinian protests. Mamdani said he rejects all hate speech but stopped short of explicitly denouncing the phrase.
Da Costa’s sudden departure adds to what critics are calling a chaotic and politically fraught transition, raising fresh questions about Mamdani’s judgment as he prepares to take control of City Hall.
