New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just dropped a bombshell by naming Ramzi Kassem, a lawyer with a track record of defending an al-Qaeda terrorist, as the city’s chief counsel, Fox News confirmed.
On Tuesday, Mamdani announced Kassem’s appointment alongside Steven Banks as corporation counsel and Helen Arteaga as deputy mayor for health and human services, setting the stage for a contentious start to his term beginning January 1, 2026.
For hardworking taxpayers in New York City, this decision raises red flags about potential legal exposure, as Kassem’s history of representing controversial figures could invite costly lawsuits or policy missteps that burden public funds.
Kassem’s resume includes a stint as lead counsel for Ahmed al-Darbi, an al Qaeda operative who pled guilty in 2014 to conspiracy in a deadly 2002 attack on a French oil tanker off Yemen’s coast.
That attack on the MV Limburg killed one civilian and injured several others, leading to al-Darbi’s conviction in 2017 and eventual transfer to Saudi Arabia’s custody in 2018 under the Trump administration.
While Kassem framed the transfer as justice, saying, “While it may not make him whole, I hope that repatriation at least marks the end of injustice for Ahmed,” many might question whether defending such figures aligns with the safety priorities of everyday New Yorkers.
Fast forward to 2025, and Kassem was back in the spotlight, representing Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and anti-Israel activist arrested by ICE for allegedly leading antisemitic demonstrations on campus.
Khalil has since been released from detention in Jena, Louisiana, though his legal case remains unresolved, leaving open questions about Kassem’s judgment in taking on polarizing clients.
Is this the kind of legal mind we want steering city policy, especially when public trust in fair enforcement is already on shaky ground?
Mamdani, speaking to the media on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, doubled down on his choice, praising Kassem’s dedication.
“I will turn to Ramzi for his remarkable experience and his commitment to defending those too often abandoned by our legal system,” Mamdani said, casting Kassem as a champion for the marginalized.
Yet, while empathy for the downtrodden is noble, one wonders if Mamdani’s vision of “building a more prosperous city” might sidestep the concerns of law-abiding citizens who prioritize security over progressive ideals.
Kassem also founded the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) clinic, aimed at supporting communities targeted by national security policies, which sounds well-intentioned but could clash with the need for robust counterterrorism measures in a city like New York.
With Mamdani set to take office soon, alongside other appointees like Banks, a self-described “social justice attorney,” and Arteaga in health and human services, the direction of City Hall feels like a sharp left turn.
While it’s fair to acknowledge Kassem’s personal journey as an immigrant from conflict zones in the Middle East to finding a home in New York, the question remains: Should personal redemption stories outweigh the very real risks his legal history might pose to the city’s future?
