Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign has drawn attention after a review of federal election records found more than $115,000 in contributions from individuals connected to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, commonly known as CAIR.
The review by Fox News Digital identified at least 41 donors who either work for CAIR, have previously worked for the organization, or have held leadership positions within its national organization or state chapters.
Among those identified in the review were individuals holding senior roles within CAIR’s national leadership structure, including Manal Fakhoury, Eyas Abdeen, and Emad Sabbah.
The list also includes CAIR-Michigan board member Jukaku Tayeb, who is El-Sayed’s father-in-law.
Fox News Digital reported that Tayeb has also been a major financial supporter of a super PAC backing El-Sayed’s campaign.
The contributions came from individuals affiliated with CAIR chapters across multiple states, including Michigan, California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio.
Other donors identified in the review included 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.
Fox News Digital also reported that CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad contributed to El-Sayed’s campaign under the name Nehad Hammad, which appears in Federal Election Commission records.
Awad received criticism following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel after comments in which he said he was “happy” to see Palestinians break out of Gaza.
He later said CAIR condemned attacks targeting civilians.
El-Sayed’s connections to CAIR extend beyond campaign donations.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, El-Sayed appeared at a CAIR event in 2022 as a paid speaker, where he criticized Oklahoma’s prohibition on Sharia law and compared the measure to the Trail of Tears.
The Democratic nominee has previously emphasized reducing the influence of money in politics during his campaign.
CAIR has faced years of controversy over allegations involving its history and associations.
Federal prosecutors listed CAIR as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, although the organization was never charged with a crime.
Five Holy Land Foundation officials were later convicted of providing millions of dollars to Hamas.
CAIR has denied supporting terrorism or maintaining ties to Hamas and has challenged its designation as an unindicted co-conspirator.
The organization has also faced designations and scrutiny from government officials.
The United Arab Emirates designated CAIR a terrorist organization in 2014, while Texas and Florida officials have taken state-level actions involving the group.
CAIR rejected the allegations raised in the Fox News Digital report, citing its public statements condemning terrorism and antisemitism, including statements denouncing attacks on civilians carried out by Hamas and other organizations designated as terrorist groups by the U.S. State Department.
The organization also pointed to its “Dispelling Rumors About CAIR” webpage and previous public statements rejecting claims that it has ties to terrorism.
The report surfaced days after El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
He is scheduled to face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election. Fox News Digital reported that it requested comment from El-Sayed’s campaign but did not receive a response.
