Stuart Seldowitz, a former adviser to Barack Obama, has been arrested for making a derogatory and racist rant, where he was filmed lamenting that the killing of 4,000 Palestinian children was not enough, during a confrontation with an Arab food vendor in New York City.
The 64-year-old has been arrested on preliminary charges including hate crime, second-degree aggravated harassment, and stalking, among others.
Seldowitz, who previously served in key roles within the National Security Council and the US State Department, was captured on social media videos engaging in a racist rant against an Arab food vendor. The footage shows him verbally assaulting the vendor, making Islamophobic comments, and even suggesting ties to Egypt's intelligence agency.
The harassment included derogatory remarks about Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, and its Prophet Muhammad. Seldowitz went as far as questioning the vendor's American citizenship, labelling him a "terrorist," and threatening harm to his family.
New York City Council member Julie Menin announced a hate crime investigation by the NYPD, condemning Seldowitz's actions as "truly abhorrent." The videos quickly circulated online, prompting Seldowitz's employer, Gotham Government Relations, to sever ties with him.
In a later apology, Seldowitz expressed regret, admitting that he shouldn't have raised the religious aspect and acknowledging that he said things in the heat of the moment.
Despite his apology, the incident has left a stain on Seldowitz's reputation, with many questioning his fitness for his former roles in national security and foreign affairs.