Two retired FBI agents who investigated the 1993 World Trade Center bombing told Fox News Digital New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is «foolish» to campaign with an imam linked to the attack. 

Mamdani attended prayers Friday at Masjid at-Taqwa on Fulton Street in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, later posting a smiling photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn cleric who was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the bombing and a longtime defender of convicted terrorists, raising funds for their legal defenses.

«Today at Masjid At-Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community,» wrote Mamdani, who was a toddler when terrorists parked a bomb-laden van in the garage beneath the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Retired FBI agent Frank Pellegrino, who investigated the Feb. 26, 1993 attack, said seeing the frontrunner to be the city’s next mayor with Wahhaj left him disgusted.

«Zohran Mamdani’s embrace of Siraj Wahhaj is an example of Mamdani’s ignorance of history. Either he doesn’t know who Wahhaj is or he doesn’t care. Whichever it is, Mamdani looks foolish,» Pellegrino said.

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John Anticev, another retired FBI agent who was the lead case agent on the 1993 attack, told Fox News Digital Mamdani should know better than to court an endorsement from someone like Wahhaj.

 «Everybody who is in politics should be aware of the people whose endorsement they’re getting,» Anticev said. «Imam Siraj Wahhaj has been a cleric who has endorsed a radical agenda.»

Wahhaj, born Jeffrey Kearse, founded the Brooklyn mosque in 1991 and has a long history of controversy. Following the World Trade Center attack, prosecutors identified him as an unindicted co-conspirator in the bombing after he sponsored appearances by Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, the so-called «Blind Sheikh» who was later convicted of masterminding the plot. Wahhaj wasn’t charged with any crimes and has denied involvement in the attack. Wahhaj also raised legal-defense funds for El Sayyid Nosair, who assassinated Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1990 and was also convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the 1993 bombing.

Wahhaj didn’t respond to a request for comment.

In court, Wahhaj served as a character witness for Abdel Rahman, calling him a «respected scholar.» In witness testimony, he also admitted raising legal defense funds for Nosair, who was initially acquitted in the killing of Kahane, but is now serving a life sentence. 

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani speaks during an interview on «The Story with Martha MacCallum» at Fox News on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, in New York City.  (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

For Muslims who oppose Wahhaj’s ideological interpretation of political Islam, called Islamism, Mamdani’s alliance with Wahhaj is a disturbing window into what his mayoral term could bring, with his allegiances to groups and leaders with Islamist sympathies and anti-American and anti-semitic views.

Muslim scholar Dalia Ziada, Washington, D.C., coordinator and research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, said Wahhaj represents the same Islamist ideology that fueled decades of extremism in the Middle East. 

«I am particularly concerned to see mosques used as political rallying platforms in the free and democratic United States,» she said. «By embracing Wahhaj, Zohran Mamdani is sidelining moderate Muslims and normalizing an extremist ideology that once inspired terror on American soil and still fuels radicalization within segments of the Muslim community today.»

Soraya Deen, founder of the Muslim Women Speakers Movement and a co-founder of the Clarity Coalition, a network of Muslims, ex-Muslims and allies challenging Islamist extremism, heard Wahhaj for the first time 20 years ago in a talk to Muslim youth in Los Angeles.

«I was stunned and bewildered by his call to destroy America, and make Islam great,» she said.

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Deen called the photo of Mamdani with Wahhaj disturbing, noting, «A theologian spewing hatred for the United States — and Mamdani smiling beside him, calling him ‘one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders’ — is dangerous for America and dangerous for Muslims.»

In the photo, there isn’t a woman to be seen, because Wahhaj also practices the interpretation of Islam that denies women access to the main hall of mosques, believing they would sexually tempt the men praying inside. Deen said, «Despite the gender jihad women are facing in the Muslim world, Mamdani poses for a photo op that emboldens the men suppressing women’s rights.»

In June, a political action committee supporting Mamdani, «New Yorkers for Lower Costs,» accepted $100,000 donations from the «Unity and Justice Fund,» a political action committee tied to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group designated an unindicted coconspirator in the trial of five Holy Land Foundation leaders. The five leaders were convicted of funneling about $12.4 million to Hamas and sentenced to decades in prison. Mamdani has included sympathetic lyrics about the «Holyland Five» in a rap. Earlier this year, Nihad Awad, a co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a close ally of Wahhaj, said he was «happy» about the Oct. 7, 2023, rampage by Hamas terrorists into Israel.

Similarly, Wahhaj has preached a philosophy of exploiting America’s democracy to further a conquest for Islam. In 1991, according to a videotape of the event, Wahhaj told a gathering of Muslims: «I just want to say this. Brothers and sisters, in my opinion what the Muslims do in America will have a profound effect on Muslims everywhere on this earth. As long as you remember that if you get involved with politics, you have to be very careful that your leader is for Allah. You don’t get in politics because it’s the American thing to do. You get involved in politics because politics can be a weapon to use in the cause of Islam.»

Frank Pellegrino, retired FBI agent, who investigated the 1993 World Trade Center attacks. (Frank Pellegrino)

In 2011, Wahhaj urged Muslims to donate to the legal defense of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist dubbed «Lady Al Qaeda» for attempting to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

«I think that she is innocent,» he told a Worcester, Massachusetts, fundraiser. «There’s reasonable doubt, and by law, if there’s reasonable doubt, you have to acquit.»

Siddiqui, who served as a courier to Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the mastermind of the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, is serving an 86-year sentence at a Texas federal prison for attempted murder and multiple other felonies.

In a 1992 talk, Wahhaj declared that if American Muslims united, «you wouldn’t have to vote for Bush or Clinton… we’d elect our own emir and give allegiance to him.»

Three years later, he shared his views on the U.S., saying, «You know what this country is? It’s a garbage can. Filthy. Filthy and sick.»

Former U.S. Navy Lt. Dr. Zuhdi Jasser witnessed a keynote address by Wahhaj in 1995 at the Islamic Society of North America conference, where the imam held up a Qur’an and declared his wish to replace the U.S. Constitution with Islamic law.

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«There’s nothing more clarifying on the Islamist extremism and dangers of Zohran Mamdani than his friendship with known anti-American jihadi Imam Siraj Wahhaj,» said Jasser, now president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. «Mamdani’s fealty to one of America’s most radicalizing clerics tells you everything you need to know.»

A convert, Wahhaj, 75, rose to prominence as a bridge between immigrant Muslim leaders and America’s Black Muslim converts. He has headlined fundraisers for groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, including the alphabet soup of organizations that experts consider legacy groups for the Muslim Brotherhood: the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), and the Muslim American Society (MAS).

In 2003, he told the Wall Street Journal that a society ruled by strict Islamic law, where adulterers are stoned and thieves’ hands are cut off, «would be superior to American democracy.»

In talks, Wahhaj denounced the U.S. government as «controlled by Shaitan,» the Arabic word for the devil, urged Muslims not to befriend «non-believers,» condemned homosexuality as «a disease of this society,» and supported Islamic laws that punish sex outside of marriage with 100 lashes and stoning. He denounced Muslims befriending non-Muslims, saying, «Woe to the Muslims who pick kafirs,» or non-Muslims, «for friends.»

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, spoke to supporters at a canvass launch event in Prospect Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025.  (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

Wahhaj even instructed Muslims to bar their children from making friends outside the faith.

«Don’t you know our children are surrounded by kafirs?» he said. «I’m telling you, making the hearts of our children corrupt, dirty, foul. It’s clear, the principles are clear. Birds of a feather, they say, flock together. And so, when our Muslims hang out with the non-Muslim, you become just like them. You talk just like them. You do what they do, you dress the way they dress, you act the way they act, you want to be just like them, because their hearts are corrupt, and now they’re corrupting your heart.»

His personal life has also been shadowed by scandal. In 2018, three of Wahhaj’s children were arrested after authorities discovered 11 malnourished children living in a New Mexico compound where one of his grandchildren had died during an attempted exorcism.

The embrace of such a figure has ignited debate over Mamdani’s judgment and the Democratic Party’s tolerance for radical associations. Wahhaj remains a revered figure among some Islamist activists, including Linda Sarsour, who in 2017 called him «a mentor» and «my favorite person in the room.» Sarsour left the Women’s March, which she co-founded, amid accusations of antisemitism. She has led many of the anti-Israel marches since the Oct. 7 attack, leading chants of claiming Israel «from the river to the sea.»

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For reform-minded Muslims, however, the image of a rising American politician celebrating Wahhaj carries grim symbolism.

«It sends the wrong message to moderate Muslims who are working hard to separate faith from extremism,» said Ziada. «And it tells the broader American public that those aspiring to lead this country have forgotten what extremist ideology once did to New York’s skyline.»

En su segundo informe anual la Comisión Pontificia para la Protección de los Menores afirmó que las victimas de los abusos sexuales por parte del clero siguen sufriendo “represalias perturbadoras” de los lideres de la Iglesia Católica por denunciar estos hechos. También denunció que la “resistencia cultural” frena la lucha contra la violencia en muchas diócesis y señaló las “grandes disparidades” entre las regiones.

Por primera vez 40 víctimas contribuyeron a la elaboración el documento, algunos de la cuales denunciaron presiones por parte de responsables de la institución, más de 20 años después de las pimeras revelaciones a gran escala en Estados Unidos, Según la AFP.

“Mi hermano era seminarista. El obispo le dijo a mi familia que mi denuncia podría comprometer su ordenación”, contó uno de ellos.

Otro relató que su familia fue excomulgada públicamente tras presentar su denuncia.

“Es un verdadero grito por parte de las víctimas, no se sienten escuchadas, no se sieten acopañadas, a veces no hay una relación de empatía o respeto”, señaló el colombiano Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, secretario de la comisión.

El documento de 103 páginas presentado el mes pasado al Papa insiste en las reparaciones a las víctimas con apoyo psicológico, disculpas públicas e indemnizaciones económicas.

La Comisión sostiene que la Iglesia Católica tiene la obligación moral de ayudar a sanar a las víctimas de abusos sexuales del clero e identificó las indemnizaciones financieras y las sanciones para los abusadores y sus facilitadores como remedios esenciales, según la AP.

El reporte compilado con aportes de docenas de sobrevivientes indicó que los acuerdos monetarios son necesarios para proporcionar a las víctimas las terapias y otra asistencia necesaria para ayudarlas a recuperarse del trauma de su abuso.

León XIV señaló su compromiso con la comisión que fue creada por el Papa argentino Francisco en 2014 para crear las mejores prácticas para prevenir el abuso. En su primera década la comisión luchó por encontrar su lugar en un Vatiano reacio a enfrentar la crisis de abuso y hostil a respadar políticas en las víctimas.

Más recientemente la comisión ha encontrado su espacio en el Vaticano y en julio último León nombro a un nuevo presidente, el obispo francés Thibauli para reemplazar al cardenal norteamericano Sean O’Malley.

El proceso está envuelto en el secreto de modo que las víctimas no tienen derechos a obtener información sobre su caso más allá de conocer su resultado, que a menudo llega despues de una espera de años. Las víctimas no tienen un recurso real más allá de hacer pública su historia.

El Papa Francisco multiplicó las medidas contra la proliferación de los abusos sexuales, pero el secreto de confesión sigue siendo absoluto y el clero no está obligado a denunciar posibles delitos ante la justicia civil, salvo que las leyes del país lo exijan.

Se estbleció que las sanciones fueran “tangibles y proporcionales a la gravedad del crimen”. Aunque la reducción al estado laico es un posible resultado para los sacerdotes que violan niños, la Iglesia a menudo se resiste a expulsar por completo a los sacerdotes. Frecuentemente impone sanciones menores, como un período de retiro.

Desde 2013 hasta su muerte, en abril de este año, Francisco multiplicó las medidas contra la proliferación de los abusos sexuales, pero el secreto de confesión sigue siendo absoluto y el clero no está obligado a denunciar posibles delitos ante la justiia civil salvo que las leyes del país lo exijan.

Una auditoria de países y la oficina del Vaticano proporcionó concluiones que elogiaon a los países donde las diocesis habían cooperado y señalaron las que no lo habían hecho. El informe encontró que la ofensiva de la evangelización misionea del Vaticano, que es responsable de la Iglesia en Afica, Asia y partes del mundo subdesarrollado, tiene los recursos para manejar los casos de abuso.

Pero “es pequeño el número de casos” que realmente llegan a Roma, lo que sugiere que la Iglesia en Africa y Asia sigue décadas detras de Occidente en la denucia y el manejo de los casos de abusos que, según la ley del Vaticano, deben ser señalados a Roma para su procesamiento.

La Oficina misionera solo tuvo en sus manos dos casos de obispos que manejaron mal los casos de abuso, un número asombrosamente bajo dado el territorio involucrado.

Los datos sugieren que el Vaticano tiene aún un largo camino que recorrer en partes del mundo donde el abuso, especialmente el abuso homosexual, sigue siendo un tabú en la sociedad en general y donde la Iglesia enfrenta problemas mas amplios de guerra, conflicto y pobreza.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — At least 100,000 people descended upon New York City’s Times Square on Saturday for a «No Kings» protest, and Fox News Digital spoke to more than half a dozen of them about why they took to the streets to rally against President Trump.

«Because I’m an American, and I learned from history, unlike a lot of other people in this country. History repeats itself,» a man named Ed told Fox News Digital when asked why he joined the rally.

«People don’t seem to understand that, and we’re going down a slippery slope, probably halfway down there already. And if we don’t stand up and protest and expand our message across America, we’ll be just another one of what Trump called the s—hole countries. That’s where he’s leading us.» 

The rally was peaceful as protesters gathered in Times Square and marched down 7th Avenue holding a variety of signs, some more inflammatory than others.

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«No fuhrers,» one sign said with a crossed-out swastika. Another sign read, «ICE melts faster under pressure,» a reference to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency where agents have faced a 10-fold increase in violence against them over the past few months.

«We have a fascist government in America abetted by a fascist media,» a man named Brad told Fox News Digital. «And people need to have their voices be heard. There’s this idea that somehow that Trump stands for America. He stands for nothing like that. He stands for hate. He stands for everything against the Constitution, everything our values are built upon, and he stands for himself and his friends and not for the great American people.»

A woman named Nicole told Fox News Digital part of her motivation for attending was she is recovering from cancer, and her husband was recently diagnosed with cancer. She says she received a notice their health insurance would be canceled in July 2026.

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Protesters march down 7th Avenue in New York City as part of the «No Kings» rally (Fox News Digital)

«So, we can bomb random boats off the coast of Venezuela, spend all this money on ICE terrorizing people. So, we can take food and health care away from families,» Nicole said. «It’s disgusting.»

Laura, who said she is from Seattle but was on vacation in New York City and decided it was important to attend the rally, told Fox News Digital of her belief that if people don’t «collectively» get the message of disapproval out «then we’re going to just give up.»

«We just might as well bend over,» Laura said, adding she is married to a woman and is concerned that, under Trump, their marriage «might not be valid anymore.»

«That’s f—– bull—-,» Laura said. 

Fox News Digital watched as a man dressed in yellow placed an Antifa sticker onto a street sign as protesters walked by. Several users on social media posted signs mentioning Antifa, which Trump designated a domestic terrorist organization earlier this year. 

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Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at the «No Kings» rally in Washington, D.C., Oct. 18. (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead)

Many of the signs at the protest used the term «fascist» to describe Trump, and several labeled Trump and members of his administration «Nazis.»

When asked if it’s fair to call Trump a «fascist,» Laura said, «I mean, he’s doing s— that is outside of what our Constitution has said.

«He circumvented so many of our government’s checks and balances that, I mean, it’s just, it is ridiculous. Not to mention making everyone who’s in his Cabinet. They have no experience, no intelligence, no, like, consistency. They’re just a joke. So, yeah.»

A man named Edgar told Fox News Digital «democracy is at stake» while another man, Lenny, referred to Trump as a «fool» and a «clown.»

Large crowds gathered in major cities all across the United States on Saturday with anti-Trump protesters attempting to make the case that Trump is a king who has overstepped his authority.

The «No Kings» movement first gained national attention in June, when similar demonstrations were held in response to the Army’s 250th anniversary military parade.

Trump, along with Republicans in Congress in recent days, have pushed back on the «king» label.

«They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,» Trump told Fox News on Friday.

Asked about the protests and whether National Guard units would deploy to manage crowds, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital, «Who cares?»