A senior official appointed to the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has stepped down just one day after her appointment was made public. The resignation came swiftly after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) brought to light a series of old social media posts deemed antisemitic.
Controversial Posts Surface, Prompting Immediate Action
Catherine Almonte Da Costa was set to join Mayor-elect Mamdani's team in a newly formed office. However, on Friday, she submitted her resignation. This move followed a report by the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday, which published several messages from Da Costa's X (formerly Twitter) account dating back over a decade.
The ADL described these posts as antisemitic and demeaning to Jewish people. Among the messages highlighted was one from January 4, 2011, which read, "Money hungry Jews smh." Another post from June 22, 2011, stated, "Woo! Promoted to the upstairs office today! Working alongside these rich Jewish peeps."
Further posts included a comment from July 10, 2012, questioning Orthodox Jewish women's wigs, and one from June 27, 2012, referring to a train line as the "Jew train."
Apology and Resignation: A Swift Fallout
Facing intense scrutiny, Catherine Almonte Da Costa issued a statement expressing deep regret. "I spoke with the Mayor-elect this afternoon, apologized, and expressed my deep regret for my past statements," she said. "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."
She added that since the issue had become a distraction from the administration's work, she offered her resignation. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani confirmed the development, stating, "Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted."
The administration clarified that it was unaware of these social media posts prior to Da Costa's appointment. The ADL has since raised questions about whether Mamdani's team conducted proper vetting before announcing the appointment.
Background and Broader Implications
Catherine Almonte Da Costa has a notable professional background. She began her career at the Office of Appointments and has held significant roles at the New York City Census and at the renowned auction house Sotheby's, where she served as the global head of equity and impact.
This incident underscores the persistent challenge for public figures and appointees regarding their digital footprints. Historical social media activity continues to resurface, leading to serious political and professional consequences. The episode also highlights the role of advocacy groups like the ADL in holding individuals accountable for past remarks.
For the incoming Mamdani administration, this marks an early setback, forcing a rapid response to a burgeoning controversy and raising questions about its appointment vetting process as it prepares to take office.
