Defending Controversial Comments
Democratic candidate Adam Hamawi has come to the defense of far-left streamer Hasan Piker regarding his remark that “America deserved 9/11.” In an interview released on Thursday, Hamawi emphasized that the comment should be viewed in context.
Hamawi, a former Army surgeon, is running for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. During a friendly online conversation with Walter Masterson, he acknowledged Piker’s previous support for his campaign, particularly leading up to the June primary. Notably, figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have also endorsed him.
When the topic of Piker’s controversial statement arose, the New Jersey Democrat hinted that perhaps it would be best if Piker remained quiet on such matters. “I think we need to put everything into perspective, and I believe he regrets saying that,” Hamawi stated.
Despite the remarks, Hamawi expressed his continued support for Piker. “I still love the man,” he added.
Piker’s original comment, made during a 2019 livestream, stated, “America deserved 9/11, dude.” He later drew criticism for mocking former Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a veteran who lost an eye, and for comments relating to the Hamas attack on Israel, including derogatory remarks about Orthodox Jews.
Hamawi mentioned that he wasn’t particularly familiar with Piker until his campaign. He stated that although he had heard the broadcaster’s name from children, he hadn’t followed his Twitch streams. “I didn’t follow his Twitch stream,” Hamawi admitted.
Masterson began the segment by declaring his admiration for Piker, arguing that the backlash against him was exaggerated and suggesting that anyone could misspeak after hours of conversation. Hamawi seemed to agree with this perspective.
As Hamawi prepares for the general election in November, he faces scrutiny over his past connections to Omar Abdelrahman, known as the “blind sheikh.” Abdelrahman was convicted for plotting to bomb landmarks in New York, and Hamawi had previously testified on his behalf during a 1995 trial. It’s worth noting that he worked for a Bosnia-based nonprofit organization in 1994 that faced shutdown due to alleged ties with al-Qaeda.
In response to concerns, Hamawi’s campaign condemned violence and hatred, labeling the scrutiny as an “associational guilt attack” aimed at Muslim and Arab candidates.
Hamawi isn’t the only Democrat to defend Piker’s 9/11 comment. Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has also suggested that the statements should be seen in a broader context. Piker himself described his past comments as “inappropriate.”
