Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has hired Brenda Abdelall as the director of his transition team, according to a report by Politico. Abdelall, an Egyptian-American attorney and professor, has previously made comments that have been criticized as antisemitic, including accusing "Zionists" of "controlling" American politics.
She made these comments in a 2002 interview with the New York Sun, where she stated that "the Zionists have a strong voice in American politics" and that "I would say they're controlling a lot of it." Abdelall has also been critical of Israel, accusing the country of "ethnic cleansing" and "terrorism", as reported by Newsweek.
El-Sayed's office has not responded to a request for comment on Abdelall's hiring. The hiring of Abdelall as El-Sayed's transition director has raised questions about his plans for his senate term, particularly with regards to his stance on Israel and the Middle East.