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The Mamdani File: How Close Is the Mayor to Removal?

11/28/2025 | Updated 11/28/2025

Table of Contents

2. Context: Antisemitic Threat Level in NYC

NYC Data (2024-2025)

  • 345 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2024
  • 54% of all NYC hate crimes target Jews
  • 56% of hate crimes since October 7, 2023 were antisemitic
  • Jews represent a small population fraction but majority of victims

National Context

  • 9,354 antisemitic incidents in US (2024)
  • Highest number ever recorded by ADL
  • Majority tied to anger over Israel since October 7

Conclusion: NYC Jews face a statistically high-risk environment. Any mayoral conduct predictably increasing tension around Jewish institutions must be evaluated against this backdrop.

3. Evidence Set A: Holy Land Five Praise

Background: The Convictions

The Holy Land Foundation was shuttered in 2001. In 2008, five leaders were convicted in federal court of providing material support to Hamas, a US-designated terrorist organization.

Mamdani's Statement

In his 2017 rap track "Salaam" (as Mr. Cardamom), Mamdani explicitly states:

"My love to the Holy Land Five / You better look 'em up."

This undisputed line expresses clear admiration and encourages listeners to research these convicted individuals.

Legal Relevance

  • • Pre-office expressive conduct (protected speech)
  • • Shows comfort with Hamas-convicted individuals
  • • Pattern evidence, but insufficient alone for removal

4. Evidence Set B: Rhetoric About Israel and Jews

"Globalize the Intifada"

  • • Used or defended this slogan in pro-Palestinian activism
  • • Jewish leaders denounce phrase as glorifying violence against Jews
  • • Later told business leaders he would stop using it after understanding concerns

Legal Note: Protected political speech, but reasonably foreseeable to embolden actors and raise fear at Jewish institutions.

NYPD-IDF Connection Claims

  • • Claimed NYPD's abusive behavior is "laced by the IDF"
  • • Links domestic policing grievances to Israeli military
  • • Type of narrative often correlating with antisemitic incidents

Legal Note: Speech-based, not directive, but normalizes blaming Jewish-identified structures for domestic issues.

Israel as Jewish State Position

Supports Israel existing "as a state with equal rights for all" while avoiding recognition as a Jewish nation-state.

Legal Note: Purely ideological position; contributes to political critique but not removal case.

5. Evidence Set C: Synagogue Protest Response

The Park East Synagogue Incident (November 2025)

Protesters gathered outside Park East Synagogue during an Israel immigration event. Chants included "globalize the intifada" and other rhetoric congregants experienced as threatening.

Mamdani's Response

Positive Elements

  • • Discouraged protesters' threatening language
  • • Affirmed right to enter worship without intimidation

Problematic Elements

  • • Argued synagogue "misused sacred space"
  • • "Both-sides" approach to mob vs. house of worship
  • • Interpreted as blaming the target

Legal Assessment

  • • No evidence of blocking NYPD protection
  • • Failure is moral/political rather than operational
  • • Warning sign, but not yet "neglect of duty"
  • • Could become legally relevant if paired with actual protection failures

6. Evidence Set D: Staffing and Vetting Failures

Strongest Official-Capacity Evidence

Involves actual use of appointment power, not just speech.

Transition Political Director Hassaan Chaudhary

Position and Past Posts

  • • Identified as political director for transition and inaugural committee
  • • Past social media posts (≈10 years old) included:
  • - Using "Jew" as an insult
  • - Calling Israel "barbaric" and "bloody country"
  • - Praising Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel rhetoric
  • - Expressing hostility to gay rights

After exposure, Chaudhary apologized, calling posts "reprehensible" and unrepresentative of current views. Mamdani's transition condemned posts but reportedly did not immediately remove Chaudhary.

Legal Significance

  • • Direct exercise of mayoral authority in choosing advisers
  • • Jews and LGBTQ individuals are primary NYC hate-crime targets
  • • Keeping aide with bigotry record arguably reckless
  • • For §36 misconduct, would need evidence of discriminatory policy outcomes
  • • Currently shows judgment failure, not yet proven discriminatory action

Additional Staff Concerns

  • • Campaign "Muslim engagement director" called Israel "bloody" and "barbaric"
  • • "God Squad" of clerics and activists with harsh anti-Israel rhetoric histories

Legal Note: Association alone isn't misconduct, but consistent choice of staff with anti-Jewish bias builds pattern courts could consider if paired with discriminatory outcomes.

7. Evidence Set E: Antisemitic Climate Under Watch

Current NYC Indicators

  • • 345 anti-Jewish incidents in 2024
  • • Over half of all NYC hate crimes
  • • 56% of hate crimes since October 7 antisemitic
  • • Many tied to Israel-related anger

Prior City Response

Mayor Adams created dedicated Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism in 2025, citing "unprecedented rise in antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate."

Legal Relevance: City leadership already recognized antisemitism as special threat requiring focused action. Any pullback or contradictory rhetoric can be evaluated against this known baseline risk.

8. Mapping Evidence to Removal Standards

What Courts Typically Require

Past §36 cases have removed officials for:

  • Misusing funds or public resources
  • Falsifying records
  • Obstructing investigations
  • Persistent refusal to perform statutory duties
  • Severe, documented discriminatory action in official decisions

Courts reluctantly remove elected officials solely for speech or associations absent clear tie to official duties.

Current Assessment of Mamdani's Position

Stronger Legal Hooks

1. Chaudhary Staffing Decision

  • • Exercise of official authority
  • • Knowledge of antisemitic/anti-gay posts
  • • Continued role despite knowledge
  • • Needs proof of discriminatory outcomes for removal

2. Pattern + High-Risk Climate

  • • Tolerates inflammatory slogans
  • • Park East "both-sides" response
  • • Could argue reckless disregard for group safety

Weaker Legal Hooks

Politically powerful but legally limited:

  • • Holy Land Five praise
  • • General BDS/anti-Israel positions
  • • Associations with radical activists

Matter for narrative and pattern but don't equal "misconduct in office."

Distance to Removal Line

0 (No case)

≈ 2/5

5 (Strong case)

Rationale: Serious pattern of reckless signals in high-risk context, plus one clear staffing misjudgment. However, little evidence yet of using legal powers to discriminate or refuse statutory duties. Courts almost never remove officials at this level.

9. Bottom Line Assessment

Established Facts

  • • NYC Jews face disproportionate hate crime threat
  • • Open praise for Hamas-convicted individuals
  • • Pattern of extremist-adjacent rhetoric
  • • Serious vetting failure (Chaudhary appointment)
  • • Problematic synagogue protest response

Legal Status

  • • Grave political and ethical concern
  • • Real future legal risk
  • • Not yet strong removal case
  • • Threshold depends on actual discriminatory policies/actions

The decisive factor will be whether his administration's actual policies and actions demonstrate discrimination or neglect toward Jewish safety and equal protection under law.