El-Sayed Distances Himself From Piker Remarks as 1 Michigan Senate Race Courts Jewish Voters
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 24
El-Sayed Distances Himself From Piker Remarks as 1 Michigan Senate Race Courts Jewish Voters
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 24
Summary
Abdul El-Sayed said Monday that only he and his campaign spokespeople speak for his Senate bid, drawing a line after supporter Hasan Piker’s comments about American Jews triggered backlash.
Piker’s remarks came after he showed an image of Jewish state Sen. Jeremy Moss and warned that if Jews appear singularly invested in Israel, someone could target American Jews rather than Israel.
El-Sayed said all Americans should be able to advocate without fear of violence, called antisemitism “a scourge,” and said he would keep the race focused on gas, groceries, schools and healthcare.
Mike Rogers and other critics have tied El-Sayed to Piker, while some Jewish Democrats in Michigan are backing Rogers or circulating a letter urging cross-party support in the battleground Senate contest.
The dispute adds to existing unease over El-Sayed’s sharp criticism of Israel, testing Democrats’ coalition in a race he enters after narrowly winning a divisive primary.