Ex-Obama Aide Faces Hate Crime Charges After Spewing Islamophobic Language at Halal Cart Vendor

An ex-Obama aide, Stuart Seldowitz, was taken into police custody on Wednesday and is now facing hate crime charges following a confrontation with a halal cart vendor in Manhattan, as captured on camera, according to the police, according to ABC 7.

Seldowitz, who resides near the halal cart, was recorded in multiple videos allegedly harassing the vendor, targeting him based on his Egyptian roots and Islamic faith.

The former Barack Obama adviser's actions resulted in his termination from Gotham Government Relations, a lobbying and communications firm where he was employed.

The NYPD initiated a hate crime investigation after footage showed Seldowitz allegedly using Islamophobic language against the food cart vendor on the Upper East Side.

The 64-year-old now faces charges including hate crime/stalking, second-degree aggravated harassment, stalking causing fear, and stalking at employment, according to the NYPD.

The specific charges that Seldowitz will ultimately face will be determined by the Manhattan district attorney's office.

As he was led out of the 19th Precinct in handcuffs, Seldowitz chose not to make any comments to reporters.

Ex-Obama Aide Harrases Halal Cart Vendor

Before his arrest became public, Seldowitz acknowledged to CNN via email that he was indeed the person in the videos.

These recordings, captured by a vendor operating a food cart on Manhattan's Upper East Side on different occasions, were widely shared online this month.

In the videos, Seldowitz engages in offensive behavior, mocking Islam and taunting the vendor about his citizenship status.

He also accuses the vendor of supporting Hamas and makes references to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

One video captures Seldowitz accusing the vendor of supporting child killings, to which the vendor responds by asserting that Seldowitz is the one responsible for such actions.

The New York City Police Department informed CNN on Tuesday that a commanding officer is aware of the videos, and local precinct personnel are actively monitoring the situation.

These incidents occur at a time when the United States is witnessing an "unprecedented" surge in reported anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, as reported by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

In one video, Seldowitz threatens to publicly label the vendor as a supporter of Hamas, while in another, he questions the vendor about Egypt's General Intelligence Service, known as the Mukhabarat.

Seldowitz makes chilling remarks about the Mukhabarat potentially harming the vendor's parents. He concludes one video by holding up his phone, asking the vendor to smile, and laughing.

Seldowitz also goes on to make derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed, ridiculing Islam and seemingly assuming it is the vendor's religion.

Ex-Obama Aide Stuart Seldowitz Denies Being Islamophobic, Regrets His Actions

Seldowitz, who was caught on video harassing a halal cart vendor on the Upper East Side and making inappropriate comments, denied being an "Islamophobic guy," per the NY Post.

However, the ex-Obama aide reluctantly admitted that it was him in the viral videos circulating on social media and offered a somewhat apologetic statement.

Reflecting on the incident, he expressed regret, especially for bringing religion into the confrontation.

"If I had to do it all over again, I would not have raised the religious aspect," he admitted to City & State on Tuesday night.

Despite asserting that he does not consider himself Islamophobic and has advocated for equal treatment of Muslims in the past, he acknowledged making regrettable statements in the heat of the moment.

In response to the incident, Gotham Government Relations, where Seldowitz worked as a consultant, announced the termination of its association with him.

The company released a statement condemning the video, describing his actions as "vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm."

David Schwartz, the founder and president of the firm, expressed outrage and offered pro bono legal representation to the food vendor if he chose to sue Seldowitz.

City leaders, including Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, also denounced Seldowitz for his behavior in the videos.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Racist Ex-Obama Official Caught In CRUEL Harassment Of Food Vendors - From The Young Turks