A Long Island Democrat aiming to replace Republican Congressman Anthony D’Esposito has strong connections to an anti-Israel Muslim activist who once falsely accused Israel of constructing a pier with Palestinian bodies.
Laura Gillen, who made history in 2017 by becoming the first Democrat elected as Hempstead town supervisor in over a century but has since faced defeat in her attempts to return to elected office, has been close with Malik Nadeem Abid since he was part of her transition team during her local victory.
The competition for New York’s fourth district is seen as a close race and crucial for Democrats hoping to regain control of the House of Representatives next year.
Gillen has maintained a friendly relationship with Abid, who has expressed anti-Semitic views, since he joined her transition team in 2017. Abid was even present during her 2018 inauguration where he took part in a Quran reading while Gillen observed. He has also donated $1,000 to Gillen’s campaigns, as per Federal Election Commission records.
In 2018, Gillen honored Abid with a citation for “Resolution of Pakistan Day.”
Abid, the former president of the American Muslim Voice Foundation’s New York chapter, has made baseless claims against Israel, including accusing them of “genocide” and labeling defenders of Israel as having “satanic beliefs.”
Abid’s unfounded statement in March 2024 alleged that an Israeli pier was constructed using the bodies of innocent Palestinians. He claimed, “Stealing the rubble of their homes to build pier & a port. The rubble may have remains of thousands of Palestinians still missing.”
In a May post, Abid asserted that the Islamic State terrorist network was a creation of “intelligence agencies.”
Critics have found the connection between Gillen, who was brought up in a devout Catholic household, and Abid to be troubling.
Gillen is seeking to remove Rep. Anthony D’Esposito from his House seat in November.
When contacted by phone, Abid confirmed that he stands by all of his previous remarks.
In response to questions about her relationship with Abid, Gillen stated, “I have been clear and consistent in my position, the United States must stand in solidarity with Israel in its defense against all its enemies, including Iran and support its total victory over Hamas. Israel has a right to defend itself from Tehran and its murderous proxies. In Congress, I will continue to support Israel.”