El-Sayed Senate Bid Sparks Classified-Access Fears Over 2024-Linked Extremist Associations
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 20
El-Sayed Senate Bid Sparks Classified-Access Fears Over 2024-Linked Extremist Associations
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 20
Summary
Conservatives and national-security advocates say Abdul El-Sayed could gain access to sensitive intelligence if he wins Michigan’s Senate race, despite no formal executive-branch security clearance being required for senators.
Critics tie those concerns to El-Sayed’s past links to Hasan Piker and appearances with or endorsements from figures who praised Hezbollah, Hamas or the Oct. 7 attack, arguing the issue goes beyond rhetoric.
El-Sayed has called Piker’s “America deserved 9/11” remark “dumb” and says no one speaks for him but himself; his campaign countered by accusing Republican Mike Rogers of profiting from work involving China- and Saudi-linked business interests.
Bryce Poole of Advancing American Freedom said the risk is not theoretical, pointing to Bob Menendez’s 2024 conviction and 2025 sentencing over sharing sensitive nonpublic information obtained through his Senate office.