Video Shows El-Sayed Claiming Dual Citizenship in 2016

A 2016 video shows Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed telling a Detroit audience that he carried dual citizenship in the United States and Egypt, a statement that conflicts with his campaign’s position that he never held Egyptian citizenship. His legal status remains unresolved in the available information. El-Sayed made the remark during an appearance at a GlobeMed conference in Detroit, where he was serving as the city’s health director. In the recording, he said, “I carry dual citizenship,” and described spending much of his summers in another country. He also recounted being questioned by Egyptian police during a summer visit after speaking publicly against then-President Hosni Mubarak. The campaign has said El-Sayed was mistaken about his citizenship. Spokeswoman Roxie Richner said he had been told as a child that his grandfather pursued Egyptian citizenship for him, but that El-Sayed and his family later could not find documentation to verify it. The campaign did not respond to questions about his 2016 recorded statement, according to the reports. The video is not the only reported instance in which El-Sayed was described as claiming Egyptian citizenship.