Call to bench Joe pick
Would-be judge’s ties to ‘radical’ Palestinians
A prominent Jewish-rights organization said it has “serious concerns” over President Biden’s nomination to a US court of appeals — over the nominee’s ties to a controversial pro-Palestinian advocacy group at Rutgers University.
The nonprofit watchdog StopAntisemitism said Adeel Mangi’s association with Rutgers’ Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR) would affect his ability to remain impartial as a judge.
The New Jersey-based lawyer, a Muslim, was picked by Biden in November to serve as a federal judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Third District.
The nomination quickly drew fiery scrutiny from conservatives over his ties to the CSRR, where he served as a member of its advisory board from 2019 to 2023.
The advocacy group raised eyebrows when it hosted a panel on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2021 — during Mangi’s tenure — which featured Dr. Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who pleaded guilty in 2006 to aiding the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group.
Al-Arian, who was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, was sentenced to 57 months in prison.
The panel, titled “Whose Narrative? 20 Years since September 11, 2001,” also included Hatem Bazian, a UC Berkeley professor and co-founder of Students for Justice in Palestine who appeared to call passionately for intifada in the US in a video unearthed by The Jerusalem Post.
‘Impartiality’ question
“We are not confident he can impartially execute his judicial duties, and should be removed from consideration immediately,” said StopAntisemitism executive director Liora Rez in a statement.
The CSRR on its website lists “criminalization of Muslim identity” through “United States and global national security laws and policies” as one of the main themes of its mission.
During Mangi’s confirmation hearing before the US Senate Judiciary Committee in December, GOP lawmakers tore into the attorney.
“Are you willing to denounce the center on whose board you served inviting a convicted terrorist, a supporter of Palestinian Islamic Jihad . . .”, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during questioning.
Mangi insisted his involvement was limited to academic advisory and he did not know about the 9/11 panel. He left the CSRR last June.
Mangi’s confirmation vote is scheduled for Thursday. If appointed, he would be the first Muslim in American history to serve in the federal appellate courts, where judges serve for life.
He did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by The Post. The Post has also reached out to the CSRR.