Catherine Almonte Da Costa resigned after one day as Zohran Mamdani’s Director of Appointments when screenshots of past anti‑Semitic social posts resurfaced. Independent reporter Timmy Facciola published the posts, which he says date to when Da Costa was about 19–20 years old; she has apologized and called the posts deeply regrettable. Mamdani accepted her resignation amid heightened scrutiny of his associations with some far‑left figures and has publicly condemned anti‑Semitic violence.
Mayor‑Elect Mamdani’s Appointee Resigns After One Day as Old Anti‑Semitic Posts Resurface
New York City Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s newly named Director of Appointments, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, resigned after a single day on the job after reports surfaced of past anti‑Semitic social media posts.
In a statement, Da Costa expressed remorse and said the controversy had become a distraction from the transition’s work. "As the mother of Jewish children, I feel a profound sense of sadness and remorse at the harm these words have caused," she said. "As this has become a distraction from the work at hand, I have offered my resignation."
Independent reporter Timmy Facciola published screenshots of several inflammatory posts on his Substack and on X, saying he had contacted Mamdani’s transition team for comment and that Da Costa then deleted her X account. The posts, which Facciola says date to about 2012 when Da Costa was roughly 19–20 years old, include offensive references such as "Far Rockaway train is the Jew train" and other derogatory comments aimed at Jewish people.
Examples reported include: "Money hungry Jews smh" and "Woo! Promoted to the upstairs office today! Working alongside these rich Jewish peeps."
Da Costa, 34, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Mamdani confirmed he accepted her resignation, saying, "Catherine expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted."
The episode adds to scrutiny of Mamdani’s ties and associations with some figures on the far left who have themselves been accused of antisemitism, including streamer Hasan Piker. Mamdani has in recent weeks publicly condemned anti‑Semitic vandalism and violence and issued statements of solidarity with Jewish communities, including after the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia during a Hanukkah event. He has also sought to distance himself from the slogan "globalize the intifada," which he initially declined to explicitly condemn as a call to violence.
The reporting was first published by Mediaite and republished by other outlets after screenshots circulated online. The controversy underscores how past social media posts can quickly affect transition teams and public trust in high‑profile political appointments.
