Did Abdul El-Sayed receive campaign funding from terrorist-linked groups?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @realcalebsnyder

Abdul El-Sayed received donations from individuals affiliated with CAIR and a supportive PAC boost, but framing legal political money as 'funding by terrorists' is misleading. Fox News and the Washington Free Beacon reported that FEC records show over $115,000 in individual contributions from people affiliated with CAIR and $500 from former Egyptian lawmaker Abdul Mawgoud Dardery, as well as $175,000 from CAIR Action's political fund to an independent super PAC. However, CAIR is a registered U.S. civil rights organization, not a designated terrorist group. Direct organizational contributions to candidates from non-profits are prohibited, and legal donations from affiliated individuals do not make a campaign 'funded by terrorists.'

3 claims checked
3 sources
Checked 7 Nov 2026
Main source: Abdul El-Sayed Takes Funds from Muslim Brotherhood Donors

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The Reel we checked

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Red flags

Accounts don't match

The Reel portrays CAIR as directly contributing six figures to El-Sayed's campaign, whereas campaign finance filings show contributions came from individual donors and an independent super PAC.

“The Unity & Justice Fund, which CAIR's affiliated political arm, CAIR Action, launched in 2024 as part of its effort 'to elevate the political influence of the Muslim community' in the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023, gave $175,000 on July 21 to…” El-Sayed Campaign Gets a $175,000 Boost From CAIR, Whose Leader Was 'Happy' About Oct. 7, After Alleging Primary Opponent's AIPAC Support Constituted 'Foreign' Intervention in Election, 2026-08-21

What we checked

Former Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Abdul Mawgoud Dardery made a financial contribution to Abdul El-Sayed's campaign.“Abdul Mawgoud Dardery gave $500 in June.”Abdul El-Sayed Takes Funds from Muslim Brotherhood Donors

Abdul El-Sayed received a $175,000 campaign boost from CAIR.“The Unity & Justice Fund, which CAIR's affiliated political arm, CAIR Action, launched in 2024 as part of its effort 'to elevate the political influence of the Muslim community' in the aftermath of Oc”El-Sayed Campaign Gets a $175,000 Boost From CAIR, Whose Leader Was 'Happy' About Oct. 7, After Alleging Primary Opponent's AIPAC Support Constituted 'Foreign' Intervention in Election

CAIR was named a unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial.“accepted donations from at least 41 individuals who either work for CAIR, formerly worked for CAIR, or have served in leadership positions with the organization.”Abdul El-Sayed accepted $115K from CAIR-affiliated donors, records show | Fox News

Our read of the video

The video shows authentic footage of an attendee confronting candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a Michigan campaign event.

An AI assessment from the footage alone; watch the video and judge for yourself.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

The donations from CAIR-affiliated individuals were personal contributions to his campaign, and the $175,000 boost was an independent expenditure by a political fund to an outside super PAC, not direct organizational funding from CAIR to El-Sayed's official campaign committee.
CAIR stated that none of the targeted Muslim 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations have or could financially support political campaigns, praising Michigan voters for rejecting hate (CAIR press releases).
El-Sayed's campaign denied claims of improper or illegal foreign donations (Cbs12 / National News Desk).

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “Abdul El-Sayed's campaign is funded by terrorist-linked groups and figures like CAIR and a former Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, making him unfit for office.”

Receiving legal political contributions from individual U.S. citizens who work for an advocacy group or a $500 contribution from a former Egyptian lawmaker does not constitute being funded by terrorists. CAIR is a legal U.S. Muslim civil rights organization, not a federally designated terrorist organization.

Short version

⚠️ MISLEADING 👉 Framing legal political donations to Abdul El-Sayed's campaign as "funding by terrorists" is misleading, as CAIR is a registered U.S. civil rights group. 👉 FEC records show individual donations from CAIR affiliates and an independent super PAC boost, but non-profit organizational contributions to candidates are prohibited. 📰 Source: Fox News 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat