🚨BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani stuns New York, putting Ramzi Kassem — 9/11 Al Qaeda defense lawyer — in charge as Chief Counsel
New York, what have you done?pic.twitter.com/E0Z4uQ43Ey
— Jack (@jackunheard) December 31, 2025
Socialist New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced on Tuesday that he is appointing controversial lawyer Ramzi Kassem, who defended al Qaeda terrorist Ahmed al-Darbi in court, as the city’s top attorney.
Mamdani, who will take office on Jan. 1, announced he was appointing Kassem as New York City’s chief counsel, the top legal role in the city. He also shared that he is appointing Steven Banks a self-proclaimed “social justice attorney” as corporation counsel and Helen Arteaga as deputy mayor for health and human services.
Kassem’s record includes serving as a senior policy advisor for immigration on the White House Domestic Policy Council under former President Joe Biden.