Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed Draws Backlash Over Hasan Piker Ties as 10 Million Followers Loom
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed Draws Backlash Over Hasan Piker Ties as 10 Million Followers Loom
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Summary
Abdul El-Sayed triggered a fresh online backlash after dismissing questions about Hasan Piker as talk about “a Twitch streamer in California” and refusing to condemn him.
The scrutiny centers on El-Sayed’s visible campaign ties to Piker, who has about 10 million social media followers and has appeared repeatedly with him on the Michigan trail.
Piker has become a liability because of past inflammatory remarks, including saying “America deserved 9/11,” and because a recent viral clip involving Jewish state Sen. Jeremy Moss intensified outrage.
El-Sayed has tried to distance himself, saying only he and campaign spokespeople speak for the campaign, but Piker has said El-Sayed invited him to campaign and “stump” for him.
The dispute lands in a high-stakes Michigan Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers for Gary Peters’ open seat, with control of the chamber potentially at stake.