Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, is facing backlash after claiming hes waiting on outstanding paperwork needed to accurately fill out his tax disclosure forms.
El-Sayed’s statement appears to be trying to defuse allegations from his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, that he is trying to mask his net worth, hiding the true nature of his wealth until after the Michigan Aug. 4 Democratic primary.
“Youve sought an extension through August 13, I believe, which is after the primary,” El-Sayed, who is endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other far-left lawmakers, was asked on Wednesday. “Was this to avoid transparency with your voters? Why not release them before the election?”
DEM CIVIL WAR HITS PRIMARY DEBATE STAGE IN FIERY BATTLEGROUND SHOWDOWN: ‘WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?’
“No,” El-Sayed replied. “Taxes get complicated.”
“My wife and her family own property abroad and getting all those tax forms is a thing,” he added.
As a part of his candidate disclosure report filed in June 2025, El-Sayed has reported a number of holdings. Among them: a salary from Wayne County worth $278,900 and an assortment of other assets bringing his net worth to somewhere between $580,000 and $1.7 million.
As a part of that disclosure, his wife reported a rental property in Bangalore, India worth between $100,001 and $250,000. The disclosure went on to say that his wife brought in between $5,001 and $15,000 in “income.” Another rental property in Ann Arbor, Michigan that was worth between $250,001 $500,000 brought in between $5,001 and $15,000.
To some viewers, El-Sayeds responses this past week are confusing, given the existence of his 2025 filings.
“A bizarre response,” Chuck Ross, a Washington Free Beacon investigative reporter, wrote in a post to X. “He filed a Senate financial disclosure in June 2025 that listed his wifes rental property in India.”
“When it comes to actual transparency and investment, the fact that he is saying my wife has foreign assets. My wife has investments abroad. Look, we need to know you have allegiance to the United States of America,” Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told Fox News. “You need to come before the people that are working to elect you, and you’ve got to show them what you’re about.”
“Perhaps now would be a good time to ensure that any Dem running for a Senate seat be 1000% transparent well ahead of the primary elections,” Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden posted on X. “Releasing your taxes is pretty basic.”
“If you have nothing to hide, then just release the tax returns. These Trump tactics are an extremely bad look,” another observer wrote.
WATCH: SURFACED VIDEOS OF DEM SENATE CANDIDATE BACKING ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ CONTRADICT RECENT DENIALS
Hen Mazzig, a pro-Israel political commentator, also bashed El-Sayeds response.
“Didnt realize being unaware of the extent of your own wealth was a characte
