A contentious exchange aired on CNN Thursday night as conservative commentator Scott Jennings repeatedly questioned the why behind New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s decision to pose for a photograph with an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Appearing on “CNN NewsNight,” Jennings reminded host Abby Phillip multiple times that Mamdani, who won the Democratic nomination in June, recently posted a photo on X with Imam Siraj Wahhaj after a campaign appearance at Masjid At-Taqwa mosque on October 17.
Wahhaj was cited in the exchange as an unindicted co-conspirator in the deadly 1993 WTC attack, which killed six and injured hundreds. Furthermore, Wahhaj testified as a character witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the so-called “blind cleric” who received a life sentence for his involvement in the bombing. Wahhaj’s son and two daughters were also convicted on terrorism and child abuse charges in 2023 following a raid on a New Mexico compound.
Jennings argued that the photo was a “legitimate thing to debate” and noted that Mamdani “seems to be pretty proud of it.” He pushed back on a suggestion by Phillip about whether such a line of attack implied Mamdani would “cheer on 9/11.”
“He’s taken pictures with unindicted co-conspirators from the World Trade Center bombing,” Jennings stated, adding, “I see a picture of Mamdani with a guy who was an unindicted co-conspirator from a terrorist attack in New York City.”
Jennings then challenged Phillip, asking, “Do you think that was a good picture to take?”
The conservative commentator also pointed out that former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running an independent mayoral campaign, “didn’t make [Mamdani] take that picture,” suggesting the choice rested solely with the Democratic nominee.
Mamdani is running on a platform of left-wing policies, including free child care, free bus fare, government-run grocery stores, and increased taxes on wealthy neighborhoods. He also previously vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should the leader visit New York City, citing an International Criminal Court warrant.
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