Plastic surgeon who testified for 1993 WTC bombing cleric wins NJ Dem primary
New Jersey congressional candidate Adam Hamawy won a Democratic primary despite past ties to a cleric convicted in the 1993 WTC bombing.
TL;DR
- Adam Hisham Hamawy won a 12-way Democratic primary for a House seat in New Jersey.
- Hamawy previously testified for Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
- His campaign stated that past associations with Abdel Rahman amount to "guilt-by-association" shaming.
- Hamawy was endorsed by prominent progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- A pro-Palestinian super PAC, American Priorities, supported his campaign.
- Some politicians, like Rep. Josh Gottheimer, expressed "deep concerns" about Hamawy's associations.
- Hamawy also faced questions over ties to a now-shuttered al Qaeda-linked front group.
- Senator Tammy Duckworth credited Hamawy with saving her life in the Middle East in 2004.
- Hamawy recently returned from a humanitarian trip to Gaza, where he witnessed "atrocities" targeting medical colleagues.