Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Identified Himself as an Egyptian Citizen When He Became a Columbia Professor. Now His Campaign Says He 'Made a Mistake.'

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate, previously identified himself as having dual U. S.-Egyptian citizenship during his time as a professor at Columbia University. Recently, however, his campaign stated that this claim was an error.

• Background: El-Sayed was born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents and attended prestigious educational institutions, including Columbia University. After completing his medical degree there in 2014, he began teaching at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health.

• Citizenship Claims: El-Sayed listed dual citizenship (U. S. and Egypt) on his academic résumé but his campaign now asserts he has never been an Egyptian citizen. The campaign claims he was incorrectly informed by family about a potential claim to citizenship.

• Campaign Statement: Roxie Richner, a spokesperson, clarified that he has never been a dual citizen, and the family was unable to find verification for any claim of Egyptian citizenship.

• Travel to Egypt: El-Sayed has frequently traveled to Egypt, often without the privileges of dual citizenship, indicating he should have been aware of his status. His past experiences, including protests against President Hosni Mubarak, were recounted in his memoir where he discusses his travels to Egypt.

• Historical Comparisons: This situation draws parallels with Elizabeth Warren, another Democratic political figure, who also faced scrutiny over claims of Native American heritage on similar grounds of family narratives.

• Political History: Following his tenure at Columbia, El-Sayed served as Detroit's health officer and became involved in various leftist movements and campaigns, including supporting calls to defund the police. As he runs for Senate, he is distancing himself from some of his past statements and positions.

Abdul El-Sayed's claim of dual citizenship has become a focal point in his Senate campaign, raising questions about the accuracy of his self-representation and implications for his political aspirations as he attempts to navigate a competitive primary race. 

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/michigan-senate-candidate-abdul-el-sayed-identified-himself-as-an-egyptian-citizen-when-he-became-a-columbia-professor-now-his-campaign-says-he-made-a-mistake/