A Michigan newspaper announced it will no longer seek comment from Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers after accusing his campaign of 'repeated lies and bigoted attacks' against Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed. The Detroit Metro Times investigative reporter Steve Neavling stated on X that the outlet would break from its standard practice due to Rogers’ campaign targeting El-Sayed’s Muslim faith in its criticisms.
El-Sayed disavows Muslim Brotherhood; Rogers disputes claim
At a town hall in Caro, Michigan, El-Sayed was asked whether he would 'disavow the Muslim Brotherhood', to which he replied, 'Sure, yeah, absolutely'. Rogers’ campaign has repeatedly asserted that El-Sayed has not fully disavowed the organization, despite the Democratic candidate’s response. Neavling also accused Rogers of suggesting El-Sayed believes 'America deserved 9/11', citing a statement made by El-Sayed’s supporter, left-wing streamer Hasan Piker. Rogers’ campaign has not directly addressed these claims in response to the Metro Times inquiry.
National figures rally for El-Sayed as race intensifies
The Senate race has drawn presidential-level attention, with former President Barack Obama scheduled to campaign for El-Sayed on Saturday, while President Donald Trump will headline a rally for Rogers and other Republicans the following day. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will also campaign for El-Sayed in Grand Rapids, and Rogers is set to join Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for an event targeting Jewish voters. The heightened national involvement underscores the race’s significance in the final stretch of the campaign.
Donations to El-Sayed linked to Muslim Brotherhood supporters
A report by the Washington Free Beacon alleged that El-Sayed received over $25,000 from at least six individuals who co-signed a 2012 letter supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and calling for the purge of Egyptian media and police. Among the donors is Dr. Hany Saqr, listed in a 1990s federal phone directory as a U.S.-based Muslim Brotherhood leader, who contributed $1,000 to El-Sayed’s Senate campaign. Another donor, Ahmed Shehata, CEO of Islamic Relief USA, gave $500 to El-Sayed’s Senate and 2018 gubernatorial campaigns. El-Sayed has not directly addressed these donations in recent public statements.
Rogers’ counterterrorism record under scrutiny
Neavling also accused Rogers of inflating his counterterrorism résumé, particularly regarding his role in the operation targeting Osama bin Laden. When the Metro Times requested specifics about these claims for its October 8 report, Rogers’ campaign declined to answer and instead defended his record while reiterating an unfounded allegation that El-Sayed received money from terrorist organizations. The campaign has not provided further clarification on these points.
Background: El-Sayed’s campaign and faith-based scrutiny
El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, is running as a progressive Democrat in a competitive Senate race. His candidacy has drawn both support and criticism, with some questioning his American identity due to his Muslim faith and heritage. At the Caro town hall, a voter identified only as 'Tommy' asked El-Sayed to disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, a question the candidate answered affirmatively. The incident reflects broader concerns among American Muslims about being repeatedly asked to prove their loyalty to the U.S., a dynamic El-Sayed has described as exhausting in a Los Angeles Times commentary.