El-Sayed’s Pick For Senate Leader Ditched His State To Have Cocktails With Gangbanger

Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) said that he plans to support Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) over current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) when Democrats choose their leadership in the new Congress.

The newly elected Michigan senator joined NPR host Leila Fadel on the “Newsmakers” podcast, where she asked him about his choice to lead Senate Democrats.

“Why do you want Senator Chris Van Hollen over Senator Chuck Schumer to be a leader?” Fadel asked.

“So, I’ve gotten to know Senator Van Hollen over the course of my campaign,” El-Sayed replied. “And, you know, even before he had supported me openly in the campaign, I have just always admired his approach to leadership.”

“He’s willing to take risks when it matters. Flying down to meet Kilmar Abrego-Garcia was a real risk,” El-Sayed continued, referencing Van Hollen’s jaunt to El Salvador to meet the deported illegal immigrant whom the Trump administration has accused of belonging to MS-13. Abrego-Garcia’s attorneys deny the gang affiliation.

“And that is the Maryland man who was deported to an El Salvadoran prison,” Fadel prompted, using the “Maryland man” framing favored by legacy media outlets and omitting the administration’s claims.

“Exactly,” El-Sayed replied. “He went to check up on his constituent. That’s what leadership is about.”

While Van Hollen made a show of traveling to El Salvador to meet with Abrego-Garcia — who had been living in his state illegally — critics pointed out that Van Hollen seemed far less interested in discussing Rachel Morin or Da’Cara Thompson — both of whom were allegedly murdered by illegal aliens.

“What bothers me more than that is a U.S. senator traveled to El Salvador on taxpayer dime to meet with an MS-13 gang member, public safety threat, terrorist. I mean, in the meantime, the day before he traveled, an illegal alien was arrested for murder, was released to the streets rather than honoring an ICE detainer in his very own state,” Trump Border Czar Tom Homan said at the time.

Homan also accused Van Hollen of remaining silent about the border crisis under former President Joe Biden.

“What shocks me is he’s remained silent on the travesty that happened on the southern border. Many people died, thousands of people died. I met with hundreds of Angel moms and dads who buried their children that were murdered by illegal aliens. How many Angel moms and dads has he met in the state of Maryland? That’s what concerns me.”