New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate Adam Hamawy has won the party’s primary, but his victory has sparked controversy due to his past associations with Omar Abdel-Rahman, the convicted terrorist known as the "Blind Sheikh," who was linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Hamawy, a plastic surgeon, testified in Abdel-Rahman’s defense during his trial and accompanied him on a trip. Additionally, Hamawy volunteered in 1994 with the Benevolence International Foundation, a nonprofit later shut down for providing logistical support to al-Qaeda. His recent work in Gaza has also drawn attention.
Michael Macko, whose father was killed in the 1993 bombing, expressed disappointment over Hamawy’s primary win, calling it "disappointing" given the candidate’s ties to Abdel-Rahman. Macko, a lifelong Democrat, said he cannot overlook the connection to the terrorist responsible for his father’s death. Former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy, who prosecuted Abdel-Rahman, emphasized the broader scope of the case, which included plans to bomb multiple New York landmarks. McCarthy and conservative commentator Guy Benson have raised questions about Hamawy’s past, suggesting it could pose political challenges for Democrats.
Hamawy’s campaign has not publicly addressed the scrutiny, but his supporters argue that his humanitarian work and medical background should be the focus of his candidacy.