ABDUL EL-SAYED: EVERYTHING THE MEDIA WON’T ASK
Steven Emerson and the Investigative Project on Terrorism (
@TheIPT) have assembled an extensive collection of reporting and resources examining Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, his organizational history, political associations, and public statements.
If you are a Michigan voter, take some time tonight to review this material before Election Day. If you are not a Michigan voter, I would still encourage you to read it. The investigations raise broader questions about political accountability, the history of Muslim Brotherhood networks in America, and how thoroughly candidates for federal office are examined before voters are asked to place them in positions of power.
Much of this reporting relies on historical records, university archives, federal documents, public appearances, and statements made by El-Sayed himself. The material deserves careful examination, particularly where the reporting identifies discrepancies between a candidate's public explanations and documented activities.
Rather than asking you to rely on headlines or someone else's interpretation, I want to put the research in one place so you can examine the records and reporting for yourself.
1. THE INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT ON TERRORISM'S SIX-PART INVESTIGATION
El-Sayed in the Brotherhood's Orbit — Steven Emerson and the Investigative Project on Terrorism
Last week, I shared Emerson and IPT's six-part investigation into Abdul El-Sayed. The series examines nearly two decades of his organizational involvement, including his leadership role in the University of Michigan Muslim Students' Association, appearances with CAIR, ISNA, and ICNA-MAS, historical FBI and Muslim Brotherhood records, and his public statements concerning Hamas, Israel, Iran, and the Brotherhood.
The investigation draws on university archives, organizational documents, public records, and El-Sayed's own statements to examine his associations and raise questions about his political history and public explanations. El-Sayed has publicly disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood; the investigation raises questions about his associations but does not establish his personal membership.
Read the complete investigation:
2. STEVEN EMERSON EXPLAINS THE INVESTIGATION — WABC RADIO
October 27 — Countdown to the Midterms with Rita Cosby, John Catsimatidis, Jake Novak, Michael Cohen, and Craig Eaton
The night before IPT published its investigation, Steve Emerson discussed the historical records uncovered during the research, including documentation from the University of Michigan Muslim Students' Association, where El-Sayed held leadership responsibilities.
He also discussed FBI records examining the historical relationship between the Muslim Brotherhood and organizations operating in the United States, the MSA chapter's meeting minutes, a fundraiser associated with KindHearts, and El-Sayed's participation in events involving CAIR, ISNA, and other organizations.
Of particular interest is Emerson's discussion of the university archives and why he believes this material has received insufficient attention from other journalists.
Listen to the October 27 interview:
October 28 — Cats & Cosby with John Catsimatidis, Rita Cosby, and Judge Richard Weinberg
On the day the investigation was published, Emerson returned to WABC to discuss the findings, including El-Sayed's leadership within the Michigan MSA chapter, activities documented in the organization's archives, and his public denial of Brotherhood ties.
The discussion also addressed the responsibilities of journalists to examine a candidate's organizational history and the national security oversight responsibilities of a U.S. senator.
Listen to the October 28 interview:
3. ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTING
The following reports come from separate publications and research organizations. Each examines a different aspect of El-Sayed's political associations, campaign activities, or public statements. They should be evaluated individually, including the evidence provided and any responses from the candidate.
THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON examines a campaign appearance involving El-Sayed and an individual the publication identifies as a representative of Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam. The reporting discusses the individual's public statements, including antisemitic conspiracy theories, and raises questions about the political associations surrounding the campaign. Political candidates should be prepared to explain controversial public appearances and associations, particularly when other participants have promoted antisemitic or extremist rhetoric.
Read the investigation:
JEWISHONLINER's report examines El-Sayed's scheduled participation in a summit alongside an educator whose previous statements praised Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader associated with the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks against Israel. The report raises questions about the organizers, invited speakers, and the decisions surrounding participation in events where other speakers have publicly praised terrorist leaders.
Read the reporting:
MIDDLE EAST FORUM published findings alleging that religious institutions engaged in political activities supporting El-Sayed's campaign, raising questions about federal restrictions on partisan campaign intervention by tax-exempt organizations.
The issue is not whether religious Americans should participate in politics. The question is whether organizations operating under particular tax-exempt classifications complied with the legal requirements governing their political activities. These allegations deserve an examination of the actual activities, the applicable tax rules, and the supporting evidence.
Read the investigation:
NEW YORK POST published reporting concerning El-Sayed's family relationships, including allegations involving his mother and questions about her visibility during his political campaign.
Read the reporting:
MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MEMRI) documented El-Sayed's campaign appearances at Dearborn-area mosques and examined previous events held at those institutions, including memorials honoring Iranian and Hezbollah figures. The reporting includes statements made during his campaign activities and the historical context of events hosted by the institutions.
Watch and review the material:
As you work through these resources, pay attention to the dates, organizational leadership positions, meeting minutes, fundraising records, public appearances, and statements attributed directly to El-Sayed. What responsibilities did El-Sayed hold in the organizations he helped lead? What activities took place during his tenure? What did he personally say or do? How has he explained those activities? Are his explanations consistent with the historical record?
The United States Senate is not a ceremonial position. Senators vote on legislation affecting national security, foreign policy, defense spending, sanctions, and the authorities available to our intelligence and law enforcement agencies. They also participate in oversight of the institutions responsible for protecting the country. Candidates seeking that responsibility should expect their records to be scrutinized, their statements to be examined, and legitimate questions about their professional and political histories to be answered.
Steven Emerson and
@TheIPT have made a substantial amount of research available. Other journalists and organizations have contributed additional reporting, some of which raises serious questions. Good journalism should not depend on whether the information is convenient for a political party, popular with an audience, or helpful to a candidate. Its responsibility is to establish what the evidence supports, identify what remains unknown, and pursue answers.
