Former Josh Hawley aide identified as heckler of Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed
Congressional staff records show that Thomas Teepell, who once worked for Senator Josh Hawley, was the man who shouted at Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a Michigan town hall, demanding a disavowal of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Congressional staff records confirm that the man who interrupted Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a Michigan town-hall was Thomas Teepell, a former aide to Republican Senator Josh Hawley. Teepell, who identified himself only as “Tommy” during the event, asked El-Sayed whether he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed responded affirmatively and turned the question back to the audience, noting the implication of a “dual loyalty” accusation.
El-Sayed then challenged the line of questioning, comparing it to historic doubts about John F. Kennedy’s Catholicism, and emphasized that he was running for Senate as a Muslim American. After a brief exchange, Teepell left the room.
Records show Teepell joined Hawley’s office as an intern in 2023, later becoming operations director before departing in February. He subsequently served as political director for Philip Sarnecki’s Kansas gubernatorial campaign, which lost the Republican primary on August 4. Teepell is the son of Republican strategist Timmy Teepell, a longtime adviser to Hawley and former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of Republican candidates questioning El-Sayed’s alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim that El-Sayed and his campaign have repeatedly denied. President Donald Trump has also asserted, without evidence, that El-Sayed is a member of the group.
El-Sayed currently leads a close Senate race, with recent polls showing a narrow margin over Republican opponent Mike Rogers. He is scheduled to campaign with former President Barack Obama in Detroit on October 24, the first day of in-person early voting, before Election Day on November 3.