Rogers' al-Qaeda Charge vs. the Court Record: Michigan Senate Debate

Rogers: money from Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda supporters

POLITIFACT

"Rogers is cherry-picking donations and associations from El-Sayed supporters."

AL-QAEDA

We found no record tying any El-Sayed donor to al-Qaeda.

Source: PolitiFact, Oct. 8, 2026

Finding, as publishedMISLEADINGMixedMISLEADING

Said at 0:16 in the source footage by Mike Rogers (R), Abdul El-Sayed (D).

El-Sayed: drug prices, Big Pharma, insurers, $14 million

19 VOTES

Never itemized. Documented: a 2007 vote against Medicare drug-price negotiation and a 2003 vote against drug reimportation.

$1 MILLION

About $1.0M only by adding his campaign ($673,390) and leadership PAC ($329,921) since 1999, employees included.

INSURERS

No source found for "another million dollars."

$14 MILLION

Est. net worth: $0.8-1.7M (2015) to $10.1-16.9M (2025).

Source: Michigan Independent; PolitiFact, Oct. 8, 2026; El-Sayed campaign release

Finding, as publishedSTRETCHEDMixedSTRETCHED

Said at 0:48 in the source footage by Abdul El-Sayed (D), Mike Rogers (R).

Rogers: "less than four years" of work experience

4 YEARS

Disclosures list University of Michigan, Wayne County, Turner Broadcasting and Crooked Media jobs; Columbia faculty from 2014.

Source: El-Sayed Senate financial disclosures, 2025 and 2026; Columbia Vagelos profile

Finding, as publishedMISLEADINGMixedMISLEADING

Said at 1:27 in the source footage by Mike Rogers (R).

Rogers: citizenship, and "con man"

CITIZENSHIP

2014 resume listed "USA, Egypt"; 2016: "I carry dual citizenship." Campaign: a family mistake.

Source: Washington Free Beacon

Finding, as publishedMIXEDMixedMIXED

Said at 1:27 in the source footage by Mike Rogers (R).

Rogers: "He would not even support the Iron Dome"

CNN, AUG. 5, 2026

Asked about funding systems like Iron Dome: "I am against it."

HIS POSITION

Opposes unconditional military aid to any country, not only Israel.

Source: CNN The Source, Aug. 5, 2026 (transcript via Breitbart); Detroit Jewish News

Finding, as publishedTRUESupportedPAID

Said at 13:51 in the source footage by Rick Albin, Abdul El-Sayed (D), Mike Rogers (R).

Rogers: the charity "was indicted for funneling money to al-Qaeda"

INDICTED, 2007

Islamic American Relief Agency, Missouri: sending over $1.4 million to Iraq against U.S. sanctions, plus money laundering and tax charges.

PLEADED GUILTY, 2016

Admitted sending $1,375,000 to Iraq. No terrorism charge was ever brought.

TREASURY, 2004

Separately designated the charity's worldwide network, saying overseas offices gave "direct financial support" to bin Laden.

HIS MOTHER

Worked there 1999 to 2004. Never charged with any crime.

Source: U.S. Justice Department, 2007 and 2016; U.S. Treasury, Oct. 13, 2004; PolitiFact, Oct. 8, 2026

Finding, as publishedOVERSTATEDMixedOVERSTATED

Said at 26:40 in the source footage by Mike Rogers (R), Abdul El-Sayed (D).