Ted Cruz calls El-Sayed a "jihadist leprechaun" at campaign stop
Summary
At a campaign event near Detroit, Sen. Ted Cruz called Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a “jihadist leprechaun” and alleged he supports the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied membership or support for the group, while his campaign called the accusation a bigoted smear and a distraction from economic concerns.Key Facts
- Cruz said El-Sayed could receive security clearance and serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee if elected, and claimed his alleged support for the Muslim Brotherhood could put Americans at risk.
- Republican nominee Mike Rogers has also made the Muslim Brotherhood allegation a central part of his campaign against El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate race.
- El-Sayed said he has never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and disavowed the group at a town hall.
- The allegations have cited social media posts by El-Sayed’s half-sister about their birthmother’s reported involvement with the group in Egypt in the early 1970s.
- Cruz and Rogers also cited El-Sayed’s leadership in a University of Michigan Muslim Students’ Association chapter, his 2011 op-ed on protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and a 2012 letter supporting President Mohamed Morsi.
- Rogers said in 2012 that the United States would need to speak with moderate Muslim Brotherhood members; he also voted to continue funding Egypt while Morsi led the country.
- The Trump administration designated some branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations in January, according to the article.
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