Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers has made Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s supposed ties to the Muslim Brotherhood a centerpiece of his campaign. On Sunday, NBC’s Kristen Welker confronted him with his own words on the subject.
Appearing on “Meet the Press” from White Lake, Michigan, Rogers accused Welker of going easy on his opponent. Welker then brought up a 2012 letter Rogers has used to attack El-Sayed.
Welker explained that at the time, “Egyptians were rising up against a brutal dictator.” She said El-Sayed “joined that letter which supported the protesters against Egypt’s dictator, not the Muslim Brotherhood as a group.”
She then put up a quote from Rogers, a former FBI agent who chaired the House Intelligence Committee, from that same year: “Do I think there are moderate Muslim Brotherhood individuals we are going to have to reach out to and talk to, yes, but we are going to have to watch it carefully.”
“Do you acknowledge that at the time in 2012 you were willing to work with some moderate members, as you said, of the Muslim Brotherhood?” Welker asked.
Rogers didn’t directly answer.
“I wish you would have done this for Abdul El-Sayed. That would have been a great interview,” he said, adding, “I get you want to defend this guy.”
He then explained that his 2012 remarks were about preserving intelligence relationships between Israel and Egypt. He also repeated claims that El-Sayed “lied” about his family ties and background.
“He said he was a physician, he is not,” Rogers said.
“He has an M.D.,” Welker shot back.
El-Sayed earned a medical degree from the University of Michigan and is an epidemiologist who served as Detroit’s health director.
Welker also pressed Rogers on President Donald Trump’s attacks on El-Sayed, which she said include calling him a “violent terrorist.” She noted there is “no proof of that” and that El-Sayed has denounced the Muslim Brotherhood.
“No, I never called him a terrorist,” Rogers said. “This election is about me versus Abdul.”
When Welker asked whether he considers himself a MAGA Republican, Rogers bristled.
Welker also asked Rogers what he would say to Muslim constituents who feel alienated by his rhetoric.
“This is not about Islam. It’s not about how he prays,” Rogers said. “It is about his adherence to this radical Islamic agenda.”