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Nessel Says El-Sayed Still Excuses Domestic Terror Remarks

8/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has not withdrawn remarks that appear to excuse domestic terrorism.
El-Sayed replied “hurt people hurt people,” which Nessel said excuses the gunman’s violence.
Nessel told David Frum she has met El-Sayed but he still has not publicly said he misspoke.
Nessel said she will not vote for Republican Mike Rogers, even swearing she would “amputate my right arm”.

History

Historical Context

On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. Congress responded with the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, tightening security and penalties for domestic terrorism. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel now invokes that legacy while condemning Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s “hurt people hurt people” comment as extremist rhetoric.

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Story summary

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has not withdrawn remarks that appear to excuse domestic terrorism.
El-Sayed replied “hurt people hurt people,” which Nessel said excuses the gunman’s violence.
Nessel told David Frum she has met El-Sayed but he still has not publicly said he misspoke.
Nessel said she will not vote for Republican Mike Rogers, even swearing she would “amputate my right arm”.

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