Fact checking 60 Minutes interviews: What El-Sayed and Rogers told voters

A tense Michigan contest

The Michigan race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers had become increasingly contentious in the final days before voting. El-Sayed had won his primary against Rep. Haley Stevens by fewer than 15,000 votes, but the two later had a public falling-out. Stevens said in a social media video posted Sunday, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.” President Trump campaigned for Rogers and called El-Sayed a “jihadist.”

Claims about Muslim Brotherhood

Rogers said El-Sayed had written a letter supporting the Muslim Brotherhood when it took power in Egypt in 2012 or 2013, and raised concerns about El-Sayed’s ideology. The reporting found that El-Sayed was one of 46 Egyptian-Americans who signed a letter to Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s newly elected president and a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader. The letter urged Morsi to act against allies of the former authoritarian leader. El-Sayed denies ties to the group and has publicly disavowed it.

Dispute over Rogers’ wealth

El-Sayed cited DTE as an example of a monopoly, saying the utility had raised rates faster than in 46 other states over 20 years and accused it of buying off politicians. He also claimed Rogers made $14 million, moved to Florida and bought a mansion and two yachts.

Candidates dispute political labels

Asked whether he had ever been a socialist, El-Sayed answered, “No. I’m a capitalist.” Rogers characterized El-Sayed as a Democratic socialist, citing positions he associated with defunding police, releasing people from prison and government taking over private health care.

The interviews lasted more than an hour each and took place in late October. The reporting said both candidates made claims that were false, misleading or unsupported.