Aber Kawas Faces Backlash Over 2017 9/11 Comments After Winning Queens Senate Nomination
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 26
Aber Kawas Faces Backlash Over 2017 9/11 Comments After Winning Queens Senate Nomination
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 26
Summary
Aber Kawas, the Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 12, is facing renewed criticism after a resurfaced 2017 podcast clip showed her appearing to argue that America "deserved" 9/11.
2017 remarks on an Asian American Writers' Association podcast linked 9/11 to capitalism, racism and Islamophobia, while also rejecting the idea that Muslims should have to apologize for the attack.
Kawas said Thursday the comments were "cherry-picked" by the political right and framed the backlash as an Islamophobic smear, pointing to her primary win this week in Queens as proof voters rejected it.
Queens' deeply Democratic District 12 is likely to send Kawas to Albany in November after she defeated Assemblyman Steven Raga for the seat being vacated by Sen. Michael Gianaris.
The controversy lands as Kawas, a democratic socialist backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and focused heavily on Gaza in her campaign, becomes part of a broader fight over the New York left's direction.