The New York Times faced online criticism Tuesday after a list of Jewish supporters for Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed included the name "Jack Mehoff." The Times reported on Sept. 17 that the letter was signed by more than 500 people identifying as Jewish leaders or voters in Michigan, asserting that El-Sayed was "clearly the better choice for Jews."
The list, linked in the Times' report, was managed by a group calling itself Michigan Jews for Democracy. "Jack Mehoff" appeared at No. 403 on the alphabetical list, which was also promoted by the El-Sayed campaign on the same day the Times published its story. Records indicate a person named Jack Mehoff was listed as living on campus at Michigan State University.
Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine highlighted the inclusion of the name on X, formerly Twitter, criticizing the Times for publishing the list without apparent vetting. Some notable individuals, including Michigan Attorney General nominee Eli Savit and former congressmen Sander and Andy Levin, were among the signers.
However, the report noted that hundreds of signers provided only a first name and last initial, suggesting a lack of thorough verification. The credentials of some clergy members who signed the letter also drew scrutiny. A rival letter backing Republican Mike Rogers, organized by Michigan Jews Against Extremism, stated it confirmed its signatories' existence via email and residency checks and listed 561 names.
A spokesperson for The New York Times, Charlie Stadtlander, said the story was newsworthy due to the notable individuals who signed and that the paper confirmed the mentioned individuals did sign. He added that the story also highlighted a letter from Jewish Democrats and Independents supporting Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed has faced criticism for his stances on Israel, including his refusal during a debate to state whether Iran posed a greater threat to the U.S. than Israel.