Republican Senator Ted Cruz warned on Wednesday that Americans could die if Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is elected and granted access to classified intelligence as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Cruz made the remarks during a campaign event in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, stating that senators receive the highest-level security clearance by virtue of their elected office. He argued that if El-Sayed, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers in a competitive Michigan Senate race, were to join the committee, it could pose a risk to national security.
El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim U.S. senator if elected, has denied any personal or family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim Cruz referenced in his remarks. Cruz cited a 2012 social media post by El-Sayed’s half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, in which she discussed her mother’s past activism in the group during the 1970s. El-Sayed has stated he was not raised by his mother and has no connection to the organization.
The Senate Intelligence Committee oversees classified intelligence matters, and its members have access to highly sensitive national security information. Cruz asserted that if Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer placed El-Sayed on the committee, it could endanger American lives. Neither Cruz’s office nor El-Sayed’s campaign responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
The Senate race in Michigan is considered a battleground contest, with Trump carrying the state by 1.4 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. El-Sayed and Rogers have clashed over national security, with Rogers and former President Donald Trump also alleging El-Sayed has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has dismissed these claims as politically motivated attacks.
The Republican Jewish Coalition is hosting a live event on October 28 at 6:30 p.m. ET, featuring Cruz and Rogers, titled “Who Will Keep Us Safe? Rogers vs. El-Sayed in the Wake of October 7th and the Temple Israel Attack.” The event will focus on security concerns amid recent geopolitical tensions.
This is a developing story. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.