Senate Counterterrorism Expert Testifies: Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s Islamist Ties Raise ‘Homeland Security Concerns’

A counterterrorism specialist informed senators this week that the political and family associations of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed create homeland security issues, citing purported links to groups tied to the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

The comments were delivered at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee session focused on Muslim Brotherhood operations in the United States. All Democrats assigned to the panel skipped the hearing.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) directly asked Kyle Shideler, a counterterrorism analyst with the Center for Security Policy, whether El-Sayed’s bid for office raised security worries. Shideler answered affirmatively.

Shideler drew particular attention to El-Sayed’s father-in-law, nephrologist Jukaku Tayeb. He noted that Tayeb had previously served as president of CAIR-Michigan and sat on the Founders Committee of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). According to Shideler, that committee is reserved for individuals deeply committed to ISNA who provide substantial funding, and it has included known Muslim Brotherhood members.

The analyst also recommended scrutiny of El-Sayed’s connections to Emgage, an organization that describes itself as focused on boosting political involvement among Muslim Americans and other growing demographic groups through voter outreach and candidate recruitment. Shideler stated that Emgage maintains close ties to CAIR and was established by a former CAIR affiliate who once appeared on a terror watchlist and had worked as a consultant to Sami al-Arian. Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor, pleaded guilty in 2006 to conspiring to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a designated terrorist group.

Attorney Khurrum Wahid is identified as a founding member of Emgage. A 2012 report had previously criticized then-Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz for attending a fundraiser he hosted, noting his reported placement on a federal terror watchlist and his representation of terrorism suspects at the time.

Cruz further inquired about the so-called “Red-Green Alliance,” referring to collaboration between radical Islamist movements and far-left political organizations. When asked if the Muslim Brotherhood partners with groups such as the Democratic Socialists of America, Shideler confirmed that it does. Cruz described the partnership as rooted in shared opposition to Western civilization, democracy, and capitalism. Shideler added that the alliance also pursues a revolutionary goal of overturning the U.S. Constitution. He maintained that Muslim Brotherhood chapters or cells continue to operate inside the United States.

El-Sayed has already drawn questions over his links to far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who once claimed America “deserved 9/11.” Piker has campaigned with El-Sayed and holds influence within the Democratic Party’s socialist faction. The candidate also faced criticism for declining to address the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pointing instead to mourning among Muslim residents in Dearborn.

While El-Sayed has emphasized removing money from politics as a core campaign theme, records show he has received contributions from at least 41 people connected in some way to CAIR, including his father-in-law. Requests for comment were sent to El-Sayed’s campaign and Wahid’s law firm.

The testimony intensifies examination of a Democratic nominee closely tied to the party’s socialist elements and is expected to fuel Republican challenges as Michigan heads toward the November election.