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Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Defends Constitutional Loyalty Amid Fox News Probe
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El-Sayed Rebuts Muslim Brotherhood Allegations on Fox News
During a televised interview on Fox News’ “Special Report,” host Bret Baier questioned Abdul El-Sayed about alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and suggested a possible dual-loyalty issue. El-Sayed responded that he has never been, and will never be, a member of the organization and affirmed his oath to the U.S. Constitution.
Campaign Context and Right-Wing Scrutiny
El-Sayed, a progressive candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, has faced repeated attacks from conservative figures who seek to portray his Muslim background as a political liability. President Donald Trump and other right-wing voices have attempted to link him to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement with both non-violent political factions and extremist offshoots such as Hamas. The candidate has previously dismissed similar accusations at a rally in Caro, Michigan, emphasizing his right to practice any faith while defending the religious freedoms of others.
Official Responses
Baier framed his line of questioning as relevant to the campaign of El-Sayed’s opponent, Republican U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, stating that the issue pertained to “Rogers’ campaign.” El-Sayed countered, urging Baier not to serve as a proxy for Rogers and arguing that elevating his faith to a campaign issue is “sad and beneath” both Rogers and the President of the United States, given constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Be a journalist. So as a journalist, if you’re asking the question about my allegiance to the Constitution, I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. I never will be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood,” — Abdul El-Sayed — Abdul El-Sayed
- “The reality is this: I’m never going to tell you what faith you can or cannot practice. I want to protect your right to practice your faith as you choose as a Christian man,” — Abdul El-Sayed — Abdul El-Sayed
- “No, no, no. Let me just stop there. You are asking this question, to raise a question about–” — Abdul El-Sayed — Abdul El-Sayed
- “If the question about my faith is the issue, which Mike Rogers wants it to be, I think it is sad and beneath him, and frankly, beneath the president of the United States, to make that an issue, because under our Constitution, you’re guaranteed the right to pray as you choose to pray,” — Abdul El-Sayed — Abdul El-Sayed