Washington, DC — Sen. Ted Cruz escalated Republican attacks on Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed this week, claiming without evidence that El-Sayed could share classified intelligence with Muslim Brotherhood terrorists if elected.
Appearing on Fox News, Cruz said he believes El-Sayed is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and argued that placing him on the Senate Intelligence Committee would create an “unacceptably high risk” to U.S. service members and intelligence assets.
No evidence has established that El-Sayed belongs to or supports the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied any affiliation and explicitly disavowed the organization when asked at an October town hall.
PolitiFact recently rated Republican Mike Rogers’s claim that El-Sayed refused to disavow the Brotherhood False, noting that video shows El-Sayed answering, “Sure, yeah, absolutely.” The Associated Press has likewise described allegations of El-Sayed’s Brotherhood ties as unsubstantiated.
Republicans have cited old social media posts from El-Sayed’s half-sister about their biological mother’s alleged activism and a 2012 statement El-Sayed signed supporting Egypt’s democratically elected government. Neither establishes membership in the Brotherhood.
Cruz has also accused El-Sayed of hating Jews, another serious allegation for which he has not presented evidence.
El-Sayed has compared the recurring loyalty accusations to questions once directed at John F. Kennedy over whether his Catholic faith would make him beholden to the Vatican.
Sources:
- The Hill – MBFC Rating
- PolitiFact – MBFC Rating
- Associated Press – MBFC Rating
- Mediaite – MBFC Rating
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