Stuart Seldowitz, a former Obama administration official, found himself in legal trouble after videos depicted him using hate-laden, Islamophobic language against a New York City food cart employee.
Preliminary Charges Unveiled
The NYPD announced that Stuart Seldowitz, 64, was arrested on preliminary charges of hate crime/stalking, but that’s not all.
Multiple Charges Revealed
Seldowitz was also arrested for second-degree aggravated harassment, stalking causing fear, and stalking at employment. However, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office has not determined the final charges.
Videos Stir Social Media Outcry
Social media platforms are buzzing with outrage as videos show Seldowitz engaging in verbal attacks at a food stall.
Multiple Days of Abuse
These recordings, captured by a vendor from inside a food cart on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, span different days.
Identity Confirmed by Seldowitz
Prior to his arrest, Seldowitz admitted that he is indeed the person featured in the controversial videos.
Surge in Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim Bias
This incident unfolds against the backdrop of an “unprecedented” surge in reported anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents since October 7.
Escalation of Anti-Semitic Incidents
Simultaneously, the country witnessed a spike in anti-Semitic incidents, reaching “historic levels,” according to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Staggering Reports Revealed
The Anti-Defamation League reports a 388% increase in incidents following October 7 compared to the same period last year.
Videos Depict Taunts and Accusations
In the disturbing videos, Seldowitz mocked Islam, questioned the vendor about citizenship, and accused him of supporting terrorist groups.
Shocking Food Stall Abuse
“You support killing little children,” he said, as well as, “You kill children, not me.”
NYPD Actively Monitoring Situation
Law enforcement is actively monitoring the situation as the NYPD confirms their awareness of the videos, with local precinct personnel keeping a close eye on developments.
Apology and Defense
Seldowitz expressed regret and claimed the videos only present one side of the story: “In the heat of the moment, I said things that probably I shouldn’t have said,” he said.
Past Role in National Security Council
Before the controversy, Seldowitz served as the acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate during the early 2000s.
Firm Denounces Actions
Gotham Government Relations distanced itself from Seldowitz, stating that the videos of his actions are “vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.”
Persistent Harassment Timeline
The Street Vendor Project disclosed that Seldowitz had been tormenting the food cart since November 8.
The post Ex-National Security Council Official Arrested for Stalking, Harassment in NYC first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kristi Blokhin. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
