During a discussion with Sean Hannity, Faulkner focused on Mamdani’s decision to give the ceremonial signing pen to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and ask her to pass it to the mayor’s chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem.
“Because it sends the signal,” Faulkner said while discussing the significance she believes the gesture could carry.
The moment has attracted attention because of Kassem’s previous legal representation of Ahmed al-Darbi. Kassem represented al-Darbi, who pleaded guilty to charges connected to an attack involving a French oil tanker and was described in the discussion as an al-Qaeda operative.
Faulkner’s comments center on the symbolism of Kassem receiving the ceremonial pen at an event specifically connected to the September 11 attacks and their aftermath.
The mayor’s office, however, has provided its own explanation for Kassem’s involvement. According to the administration, Kassem’s legal team assisted in drafting the executive orders that Mamdani signed, offering a reason for his presence and participation in the ceremony.
The controversy therefore centers less on the mechanics of the signing and more on the symbolism attached to the pen handoff, as well as Kassem’s past legal work.
Mamdani’s administration has not indicated that Kassem’s previous representation of al-Darbi was intended to convey support for al-Qaeda or its activities. Legal representation of a defendant, by itself, does not establish that an attorney shares the defendant’s views or actions.
The exchange has nevertheless prompted renewed debate over the political and symbolic messages surrounding Mamdani’s approach to issues involving September 11, terrorism, law enforcement and New York City’s security policy.
As the administration continues to implement its executive orders, the role of Kassem and the broader significance of the ceremony are likely to remain subjects of political discussion.