Former Governor George Pataki revealed that he has a lung disease linked to his exposure to toxins on September 11, 2001.
Pataki, who served as New York’s Republican governor between 1995 and 2006, told The New York Post that he has a restrictive airway disease linked to toxins present from the terror attack.
“I just look at it as I’m one of the lucky ones,” Pataki told the outlet. “You know, 25 years later, I feel great. I have this minor residual impact from that time. But compared to so many others, I consider myself very lucky.”
“The people who were with me at Ground Zero over and over for months after those attacks, many of them have serious illnesses, far more serious than anything I might be experiencing,” he added.
Similarly, former Republican New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was revealed to have a similar condition following his hospitalization with pneumonia. “Mayor Rudy Giuliani is recovering from pneumonia. On September 11th, Mayor Giuliani ran toward the towers to help those in need, which later led to a diagnosis of restrictive airway disease,” his spokesman said in May. “This condition adds complications to any respiratory illness, and the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain adequate oxygen and stabilize his condition.”
Pataki also suggested to The New York Post that Mayor Zohran Mamdani should not attend any upcoming 9/11 ceremonies. “Out of respect for those who died and out of the respect for their families and the first responders, he should make the decision not to go,” he said.
