Mamdani is under fire after a symbolic 9/11 pen was handed to a former al Qaeda defense lawyer. After signing an executive order designating 9/11 a citywide day of remembrance, the pen was handed to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem. Kassem previously represented a convicted al Qaeda member whose brother-in-law was one of the hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which struck the Pentagon on 9/11. The moment is adding to the criticism Mamdani is already facing over his participation in 9/11 remembrance events. ▻