Michigan’s Top Democrat Breaks with Party’s Senate Nominee Over Synagogue Attack Response

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is publicly challenging her party’s U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, asserting that his handling of a foiled terrorist attack on a state synagogue amounted to excusing an act of domestic terrorism. Nessel, who has served as the state’s top law enforcement official since 2019, detailed her objections in an extended conversation with Atlantic writer David Frum, citing what she described as troubling anti-Israel sentiment gaining ground within Democratic ranks.

At the center of Nessel’s criticism lies El-Sayed’s public statements following the early-year attack on Temple Israel, where authorities determined a gunman motivated by Hezbollah sought mass casualties. Nessel took particular issue with El-Sayed’s phrase “hurt people hurt people,” characterizing it as an attempt to rationalize violence against a facility where more than 100 preschool-age children were present. “That’s the kind of mentality that bothers me a lot,” Nessel stated, emphasizing her view that such framing provided unwarranted context for an act of terrorism.

Nessel contrasted El-Sayed’s response with her own approach to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, when she visited a Dearborn mosque wearing a hijab and issued an unambiguous condemnation of Islamophobia without qualification. She contended that the appropriate reaction to Temple Israel required similar moral clarity devoid of explanations regarding the perpetrator’s background or psychological state. The attorney general stressed that creating space for such explanations when discussing anti-Jewish violence was fundamentally inconsistent with standing against terrorism.

Despite acknowledging El-Sayed’s recent outreach to Jewish community leaders, Nessel expressed disappointment that he has not formally retracted or clarified his initial remarks. She said El-Sayed has privately acknowledged regret but has stopped short of a public statement disavowing his comments as of late August. Nessel further cited El-Sayed’s reference to “breaking bread with Jews at Passover”—a religious observance during which bread is not consumed—as indicative of insufficient knowledge about Jewish traditions and history.

Nessel stopped short of endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, saying she would “amputate [her] right arm” before supporting him due to concerns about Republican control of the Senate. She underscored substantial agreement with El-Sayed on core policy matters while maintaining her position that he must demonstrate genuine understanding of Jewish concerns and history. The attorney general indicated she remains open to further dialogue with El-Sayed should he demonstrate willingness to learn and evolve on these issues.

El-Sayed released a separate statement in March alongside his initial video remarks, stating he was “horrified and heartbroken” by the synagogue attack and affirming Jewish residents’ right to worship safely. He declared zero tolerance for antisemitism and pledged solidarity against all forms of hate. Fox News Digital sought comment from El-Sayed’s campaign regarding Nessel’s recent statements.

El-Sayed has faced sustained criticism from Jewish organizations, Democratic colleagues, and Republican opponents over his vocal critiques of Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, along with his public association with left-wing content creator Hasan Piker.