Senate Hearing Scrutinizes El-Sayed Ties to CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood | WATCH

Simultaneously, Fox News Digital published findings from a review of Federal Election Commission records showing that El-Sayed's campaign collected more than $115,000 from at least 41 individuals who work for, previously worked for, or have held leadership positions with CAIR. According to Fox News reporting, donors included CAIR national Board Chair Manal Fakhoury, Board Treasurer Eyas Abdeen, Vice Chair Emad Sabbah, and Tayeb—El-Sayed's father-in-law. Contributions came from CAIR affiliates in multiple states including California, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and others.

According to Fox News, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad (listed in some FEC records under a variant spelling) was also among the donors. Awad drew widespread criticism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, when he expressed happiness that Hamas had "broken out" of Gaza and argued Israel lacked a right to self-defense as an "occupying power," according to multiple reporting outlets.

The donation pattern contrasts sharply with El-Sayed's campaign messaging. According to reporting on his platform, El-Sayed has campaigned on getting "money out of politics" and has criticized outside spending—particularly AIPAC's support for his primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens.

El-Sayed won the August 4 Democratic primary with approximately 48.5% of the vote against Stevens' 47.5%, according to NBC News projections. He will face Republican Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent, in the November general election for Michigan's Senate seat.

The Senate hearing controversy underscores ongoing debates over CAIR's history and political role. CAIR has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates, according to Fox News. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued similar state-level designations, though a Florida judge later blocked enforcement of DeSantis's order on First Amendment grounds, according to reporting from multiple outlets.

CAIR and its supporters reject the terrorism labels and historical associations as baseless smears, according to their public statements. Critics point to federal court evidence from the Holy Land Foundation case and the groups' documented origins to support their concerns.

Democrats on the subcommittee boycotted the hearing, according to Congressional sources cited by reporting outlets. They characterized the hearing as a political stunt aimed at scapegoating Muslim Americans and argued that Cruz was using the proceedings to attack El-Sayed on the eve of the primary.

El-Sayed has pledged to protect Jewish Americans and has said his criticism of Israeli government policy is distinct from any position on Jewish Americans as a group, according to earlier campaign statements.