Plastic surgeon who testified in support of WTC 1993 bomber is one step closer to becoming Democrat congressman

By EMMA RICHTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:09, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 19:29, 3 June 2026 A plastic surgeon who testified in support of a terrorist who carried out the horrific 1993 World Trade Center bombing is inching closer to becoming a congressman in New Jersey.  Adam Hisham Hamawy, 56, won a crowded 12-way Democratic primary election on Tuesday night, meaning he has a high likelihood of replacing Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in November.  Coleman, a progressive liberal, has held the seat in the Garden State's 12th Congressional District for 10 years, but if the Egyptian-born former Army combat surgeon stays on this track, he could swipe it from her.  Throughout his campaign, the father-of-four has faced mounting scrutiny over his testifying on behalf of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, a blind militant Islamist who was convicted of inspiring terror attacks, including the World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and left thousands injured.  Rahman, who was known as 'The Blind Sheikh', was a well-known figure among Al- Qaeda terrorists. He died in February 2017 while serving a life sentence in federal custody.  Hamawy's relationship with the convicted terrorist came to light after a report by the Jewish Insider revealed that he served as Rahman's translator during a press conference in which the mastermind denied his involvement in the attack.  The then 26-year-old medical school student also translated for the sheikh during his trial, and even served as a defense witness during proceedings. He and his campaign have vehemently defended his affiliation with Rahman, telling the Daily Mail that Hamawy 'condemns that man’s violent rhetoric and actions, and all violence, hatred, and terrorism — and he will always.'  Adam Hisham Hamawy, a plastic surgeon who testified in support of a terrorist who carried out the horrific 1993 World Trade Center bombing, is one step closer to becoming a congressman in New Jersey In 1995, Hamawy testified on behalf of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman (pictured), a blind militant Islamist who was convicted of inspiring terror attacks, including the World Trade Center bombing 'At the time, the man in question was one of very few religious figures in what was then a very small Muslim community in New Jersey – he saw him speak in religious settings in his early 20s,' his spokesperson added. 'Dr. Hamawy had no contact with this person after they were arrested.' After coming out on top on Tuesday, Hamawy appeared to mention the backlash he's received for his connection to Rahman.  'Things got nasty. My family got attacked. My values were questioned,' he said, according to The New York Times.  The doctor, who appeared before Congress in June 2024 to describe his time treating patients in Gaza, added that his victory is proof that 'anti-Muslim' attacks won't knock him down.  'There once was a time where this might have worked, when racist and anti-Muslim attacks would have turned an election,' he said. 'But tonight we proved that this era of American politics is over.'  Hamawy runs his own plastic surgery practice in Princeton, a little over an hour outside of New York City.  He is a first-time candidate who decided to get into politics after feeling like lawmakers in Washington weren't hearing him when he tried to share what he saw during a humanitarian mission to the European Hospital in southern Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.  After news broke of his ties to the 9/11 terrorist, many Republicans expressed their fury.  The terror attack left six people dead and thousand injured in 1993 The doctor said that Tuesday night's victory is proof that 'anti-Muslim' attacks wont knock him down 'Democrats are now running actual terrorists for Congress. Surprising? No. Disappointing? Yes,' said Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy. New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer previously told Jewish Insider he had 'deep concerns' over the congressional hopeful's 'associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America.'  Meanwhile, Hamawy has been backed by top Democrats, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Senator Bernie Sanders, and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, among others. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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