Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has voiced significant concerns regarding the response of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to a recent attempted terrorist attack on a Michigan synagogue, suggesting his remarks appeared to make excuses for domestic terrorism. Nessel also stated that she does not feel safe attending her state party's convention due to what she described as "an enormous amount of anti-Semitism within the Democratic Party."
Nessel specifically took issue with El-Sayed's statement following the attack, where a gunman allegedly inspired by Hezbollah targeted Temple Israel. El-Sayed's comment, "hurt people hurt people," was interpreted by Nessel and others as excusing the actions of an individual who reportedly intended to harm over 100 people. "And that’s the kind of mentality that bothers me a lot," Nessel said in an interview with The Atlantic's David Frum.
Contrasting El-Sayed's reaction with her own response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, where she visited a mosque in hijab and unequivocally condemned Islamophobia, Nessel argued that the Temple Israel attack should have been condemned without attempting to delve into the perpetrator's motivations. "You can’t make excuses for that kind of domestic terrorism," she stated.
While acknowledging El-Sayed's recent outreach to Jewish leaders, Nessel expressed doubt about his sincerity, noting that he has not publicly retracted his controversial statement. "And it has me concerned that he really stands by them," Nessel said. She urged El-Sayed to acknowledge his error, engage with Jewish stakeholders, and demonstrate a better understanding of Jewish religious beliefs and history, pointing to a post-primary reference he made to "breaking bread with Jews at Passover," a time when bread is intentionally not consumed.
Nessel emphasized that despite these criticisms, she does not intend to support the Republican Senate candidate, Mike Rogers, stating that electing a Republican majority in the Senate would be "incredibly dangerous." She affirmed that she has more in common with El-Sayed in terms of general beliefs, principles, and policies than with Rogers.
El-Sayed's campaign released a statement following the attack, calling him "horrified and heartbroken" and expressing solidarity with the Jewish community. The statement affirmed their right to worship in peace and condemned antisemitism. However, El-Sayed has faced broader criticism from various groups over his past remarks on Israel and his association with certain political commentators. The campaign was contacted for comment regarding Nessel's remarks.