Queens Assemblyman Accused of Fabricating Post-9/11 Family Story

A leading candidate for New York City mayor is facing significant backlash after admitting he misspoke about a family member’s experience following the September 11 terror attacks.

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old progressive who is considered a frontrunner in the November 4 mayoral election, held a press conference Monday to clarify statements he made last week about a relative who allegedly stopped using public transportation due to fear after 9/11.

“I was speaking about Zehra fuhi, my father’s cousin, who passed away a few years ago,” Mamdani explained. He noted that “fuhi” means paternal aunt in Urdu and Hindi. This clarification came after Mamdani had emotionally recalled last week how “my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11 because she did not feel safe in her hijab.”

The revelation drew immediate scrutiny when internet investigators discovered that Mamdani’s only living aunt, Masuma Mamdani, was living in Tanzania during the 2001 attacks and does not wear a headscarf. Photos circulating online confirmed this discrepancy.

The incident has sparked outrage among families of 9/11 victims. Terry Strada, whose husband Tom died while working as a Cantor Fitzgerald bond broker on the 104th floor of the North Tower, expressed her anger to the Daily Mail.

“I find what he had to say completely insulting to all of the people that suffered a horrible loss that day,” Strada said. “To compare an aunt being uncomfortable on the subway to all of these families that were murdered was just very insensitive and shows his true colors.”

Strada, who had three children including a newborn just days old when her husband was killed, called Mamdani “a despicable liar” and voiced concern about his potential leadership of New York City.

Brett Eagleson, who lost his 53-year-old father Bruce in the South Tower, also criticized Mamdani’s comments, characterizing them as “lunacy from a candidate for mayor of New York City.” Eagleson pointed out that as the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches, families continue to seek justice against those responsible.

The controversy has attracted national attention, with Vice President J.D. Vance weighing in on social media. “According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks,” Vance wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Mamdani responded to Vance’s criticism by suggesting it represented “cheap jokes about Islamophobia” and an unwillingness to acknowledge what Muslim Americans experienced.

The mayoral candidate’s comments came during a speech where he discussed how an uncle had once suggested he keep his faith private when entering politics. Mamdani framed this as a common experience among Muslim New Yorkers, saying, “These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught.”

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has been critical of Mamdani’s campaign, accused the candidate of “playing the victim” and disputed the characterization of widespread Islamophobia in New York. “Zohran is an actor and his entire campaign has been theatrics,” Cuomo said. “Literally, his mother is a noted film director. He was a rapper, actor and he has produced great videos but it is all an act.”

The incident occurs at a crucial moment in the mayoral race, with just over a week until Election Day. Mamdani, who currently serves in the New York State Assembly representing parts of Queens, has positioned himself as a progressive alternative in the race to succeed Mayor Eric Adams.

Political analysts suggest this controversy could significantly impact voter perceptions, particularly given the emotional resonance that 9/11 continues to hold for many New Yorkers. The question remains whether Mamdani can effectively address the concerns raised by victims’ families while maintaining his campaign momentum in the final days before the election.