Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) has tapped a former Biden administration official — and campaign aide to former Vice President Kamala Harris — who once said Zionists were “controlling” American politics to lead his Senate transition team.
El-Sayed appointed Brenda Abdelall, an Egyptian-American attorney and professor, to serve as his transition director, Politico reported Friday. Her appointment is drawing renewed scrutiny over remarks she made in 2002 suggesting that supporters of Israel wielded control over American political affairs.
“The Zionists have a strong voice in American politics,” Abdelall told The New York Sun at an American Muslim Council convention in 2002. “I would say they’re controlling a lot of it.”
Abdelall made the comments while discussing the defeat of then-Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-AL), who lost a Democratic primary after pro-Israel groups spent heavily against him. Hilliard had opposed a congressional resolution condemning Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israel.
Her remarks resurfaced in 2024 after then-Vice President Harris hired Abdelall to direct Arab-American outreach for her presidential campaign. A Harris campaign spokesperson defended the appointment at the time, saying the comments no longer reflected Abdelall’s views.
“Those 2002 comments do not reflect Brenda’s views or the views of the campaign,” the spokesperson said.
Abdelall also previously served as Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement at the Department of Homeland Security under President Joe Biden, where she helped implement the administration’s first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, announced in May 2023. She also helped organize the White House’s United We Stand summit, which focused on combating hate-fueled violence.
Her new role places her in a prominent position as El-Sayed prepares to enter the Senate following his victory over Republican Mike Rogers in Tuesday’s midterm election.
The appointment also comes as El-Sayed faces questions about his own record on Israel and his associations with activists who have made controversial statements about the Jewish state and the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks.
During his campaign, El-Sayed repeatedly criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and argued that the United States should use its leverage to pressure the Israeli government. He also said Israel was not an American ally if it used U.S. support to push Washington into wars it should not fight.
El-Sayed has previously bristled at questions about Israel and his connections to anti-Israel activists —including extensive ties to the Muslim Brotherhood — arguing that the focus should remain on his campaign priorities, including health care, affordability, and getting money out of politics.
His campaign appearances with communist influencer Hasan Piker, who has said that “America deserved 9/11” and described Israel as “worse than” Hamas, also drew criticism. El-Sayed additionally campaigned with Dearborn community leader Osama Siblani, who has referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as “freedom fighters.”
Abdelall’s appointment could signal that Middle East policy will remain a significant part of the senator-elect’s political orbit as he prepares to take office. El-Sayed’s team has not commented publicly on the hiring.
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