The Detroit Metro Times has announced a historic departure from journalistic norms, stating it will stop requesting input from Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Investigative reporter Steve Neavling cited a pattern of "repeated lies and bigoted attacks" directed at Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed as the reason for the decision.
The Detroit Metro Times' decision to stop seeking comment from Mike Rogers
The Detroit Metro Times has taken the unusual step of refusing to solicit comments from the campaign of Republican Mike Rogers. As reported by the Detroit Metro Times, this marks the first time in the publication's history that a candidate has been excluded from the standard request-for-comment process due to their conduct.
This decision occurs as the Michigan Senate race becomes one of the most closely watched contests in the country,with both parties fighting for control of Congress. The tension between the two campaigns has escalated, with the Detroit Metro Times noting that Rogers has frequently targeted El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, on issues ranging from public safety to the state's auto industry.
Disputed claims regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and 9/11
Republican candidate Mike Rogers has faced significant scrutiny over allegations involving the Muslim Brotherhood and the September 11 attacks. According to the Detroit Metro Times, Rogers has suggested that El-Sayed has not sufficiently disavowed the organization, despite El-Sayed telling a town hall audience member "Sure, yeah,absolutely" when asked to denounce the group.
Further controversy arose when Rogers suggested that El-Sayed believed America deserved the 9/11 attacks, a claim linked to statements made by left-wing streamer Hasan Piker. While El-Sayed's family ties have been questioned by social media posts from his half-sister, El-Sayed denied any family connection to the Islamist group in an interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker.
Contradictions in EV policy and counterterrorism credentials
Discrepancies regarding policy stances and professional history have also become central to the campaign's friction. The Detroit Metro Times reported that Rogers has claimed El-Sayed intends to ban gas-powered vehicles, yet during the July primary debate,El-Sayed actually opposed an electric vehicle mandate and supported the continued production of internal combustion engines.
The campaign has also questioned Rogers' own professional background, specifically regarding his counterterrorism resume and his role in the operation targeting Osama bin Laden. This follows a pattern of policy shifts, such as Rogers' own 2008 support for the Chevrolet Volt and a clean-energy future, which contrasts with his more recent stances on Michigan's manufacturing sector.
The unverified allegations of terrorist funding
Several claims made by the Rogers campaign remain unverified or have been directly refuted. When the Detroit Metro Times sought clarification on specific claims during an October 8 report, the Rogers campaign declined to answer and instead repeated an allegation that El-Sayed received money from terrorist organizations.
Additionally, while El-Sayed has been criticized for referring to himself as a physician despite not being currently licensed to practice medicine, the more serious allegations regarding foreign influence and terrorist financing have not been substantiated by the reporting.
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