Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's campaign has come under scrutiny following a review of federal election records by Fox News Digital, which revealed over $115,000 in donations from individuals associated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The report emerged days after El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, setting the stage for a November general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers.
"happy to see Palestinians break out of Gaza." — Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director
The Fox News Digital review identified at least 41 donors who are either current or past employees of CAIR, or who have held leadership positions within its national organization or various state chapters. These contributions originated from individuals linked to CAIR chapters across multiple states, including Michigan, California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio, indicating a broad network of support.
Among the notable individuals identified in the review are those holding senior roles within CAIR’s national leadership structure, such as Manal Fakhoury, Eyas Abdeen, and Emad Sabbah. The list of donors also includes Jukaku Tayeb, a CAIR-Michigan board member and El-Sayed’s father-in-law. Fox News Digital further reported that Tayeb has been a significant financial supporter of a super PAC backing El-Sayed's campaign, extending the financial ties beyond direct campaign contributions. Other named donors include CAIR-Michigan board member Muzammil Ahmed, who contributed $11,600, as well as officials connected to CAIR-California, including board members Asaad Traina, Rubina Alvi, Atef Ibrahim, and Dina Ezzeddine.
A key detail in the report involves Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director, who reportedly contributed to El-Sayed’s campaign under the name Nehad Hammad, as recorded in Federal Election Commission records. Awad previously faced criticism for comments made following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, where he stated he was “happy” to see Palestinians break out of Gaza. He later clarified that CAIR condemned attacks targeting civilians.
El-Sayed's connections to CAIR are not limited to campaign donations. According to the Washington Free Beacon, El-Sayed appeared as a paid speaker at a CAIR event in 2022. During this appearance, he reportedly criticized Oklahoma’s prohibition on Sharia law, drawing a comparison between the measure and the historical "Trail of Tears." This past engagement adds another dimension to the relationship between the Democratic nominee and the organization. Previously, El-Sayed's campaign has emphasized a commitment to reducing the influence of money in politics, a stance that may face renewed scrutiny in light of these revelations.
CAIR itself has been the subject of controversy for years regarding its history and associations. Federal prosecutors listed CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, an investigation that ultimately led to the conviction of five Holy Land Foundation officials for providing millions of dollars to Hamas. Although CAIR was never charged with a crime in that case, the designation has remained a point of contention. The organization has consistently denied supporting terrorism or maintaining ties to Hamas and has challenged its designation as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Further scrutiny of CAIR has come from various governmental bodies. In 2014, the United Arab Emirates designated CAIR as a terrorist organization. Additionally, officials in Texas and Florida have taken state-level actions involving the group, reflecting ongoing concerns about its activities and alleged associations.
In response to the Fox News Digital report, CAIR rejected the allegations, reiterating its public statements condemning terrorism and antisemitism. The organization highlighted its denunciations of attacks on civilians carried out by Hamas and other groups designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department. CAIR also directed attention to its "Dispelling Rumors About CAIR" webpage and previous public statements in which it has rejected claims of ties to terrorism. Fox News Digital reported that it sought comment from El-Sayed’s campaign regarding the donations but did not receive a response. The revelations are expected to draw significant attention as the Michigan Senate race progresses towards the November general election.
