Remarks opposing prisons made by Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate contender in Michigan, during a 2020 webinar have resurfaced. El-Sayed's statements calling for the release of everyone in prisons have become a focus of criticism in the heated primary race.
According to recordings brought to light by the Washington Free Beacon, El-Sayed participated as a speaker in an online panel hosted by the University of Michigan's Carceral State Project, alongside a woman convicted of second-degree murder and registered sex offender Martin Vargas.
During the webinar, El-Sayed said, "Society has failed to deal with real problems and has used policing and prisons as a band-aid for all these failures." The candidate, a former health director, argued that any effort to get people out of prison should be supported, adding, "This will not end when the pandemic is over."
El-Sayed's remarks were recorded at a time when calls to cut police budgets were rising nationwide and Democratic-run cities were slashing their police forces. It also emerged that the candidate deleted social media posts supporting reductions in police funding before launching his statewide campaign.
Martin Vargas, the registered sex offender who participated in the panel with El-Sayed, said he had no connection to the candidate, stating, "When I was asked to join the webinar, I did not know Dr. El-Sayed and, apart from what I’ve seen on television, I still don’t." Vargas added he was almost certain El-Sayed did not know him before the event.
Considered the most progressive candidate in the Michigan Democratic primary, El-Sayed has the backing of Independent Senator Bernie Sanders. Some party strategists believe he may face electability issues in the general election against Republican candidate Mike Rogers. The candidate's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
