El-Sayed erupts at GOP rival over Muslim Brotherhood accusations in fiery Senate debate

Michigan's Senate contest turned heated at Wednesday night's debate, when Democrat Abdul El-Sayed angrily rejected Republican Mike Rogers's suggestion that he has links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The exchange matters because the group's name has trailed El-Sayed through the campaign, and he used the stage to deny any connection directly, according to Fox News · NBC News.

The clash began during a question about funding for law enforcement. Rogers said El-Sayed had been enthusiastic about defunding police and had even urged Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood president, Morsi, to do the same in his country. The Washington Free Beacon has reported that El-Sayed put his name in 2012 to a letter asking that leader to overhaul Egypt's police.

El-Sayed answered that doubting his loyalty to the Constitution was beneath Rogers. He said he is proud to be American, praised the constitutional right to worship freely, and called the line of questioning shameful, noting that he has served under that document.

The issue has also drawn attention because social media posts by his half-sister resurfaced, claiming their mother took part in Brotherhood activism during the 1970s. El-Sayed denies any personal or family ties and says his biological mother did not raise him.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News · NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News · NBC News →