Rift Surfaces Between Mayor and Appointee

Mayor Bloomberg appears to be lining up against one of his appointees to the city's Commission on Human Rights on a federal lawsuit.

The commissioner, Omar Mohammedi, is representing six imams who filed a civil lawsuit seeking the names of the passengers who reported them for suspicious activity on an airplane. Mr. Bloomberg said citizens should have the right to report suspicious activity without fear of retribution.

Rep. Peter King is pushing a measure that would protect from lawsuits any passenger who reports suspicious activity. "I haven't seen Congressman King's bill, but you certainly should not feel that you cannot go and report something," Mr. Bloomberg said.

A spokesman for the mayor said as a private attorney Mr. Mohammedi has the right to represent whomever he chooses.