O’Keefe Media Group founder James O’Keefe confronted Abdoul Beckwith, a regional field organizer for Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, at the campaign’s Detroit office following OMG’s undercover investigation into Beckwith’s claims about overseas campaign contributions, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood. The confrontation escalated into a heated exchange, with Beckwith appearing to lunge toward O’Keefe as another individual physically restrained him. O’Keefe subsequently filed a police report in Michigan assault.
During the original undercover investigation, Beckwith claimed El-Sayed receives campaign donations from individuals overseas.
“You know, he [Abdul El-Sayed] has people from overseas that donate to him,” Beckwith told an OMG undercover journalist. When questioned about whether such donations were permitted, Beckwith responded, “No it is not allowed,”before describing a hypothetical arrangement in which overseas money could pass through another individual.
“And then people overseas give money to him. And then he gives money to you. It’s that type of thing,” Beckwith stated, adding, “Everybody does it!”
Seeking answers about these statements, O’Keefe visited El-Sayed’s Detroit campaign office and directly questioned Beckwith.
“Abdul, you said that El-Sayed was taking money from overseas, which is against the law,” O’Keefe stated during the confrontation.
Beckwith became visibly agitated, repeatedly cursed at O’Keefe, and appeared to lunge toward him as another individual attempted to physically restrain him.
“I don’t give a f*ck who you are, bro,” Beckwith repeatedly shouted.
An OMG team member who witnessed the incident described Beckwith’s actions, stating, “He got up angrily and tried lunging at you,” adding that another individual wearing a gray sweater was attempting to hold him back.
As the confrontation escalated, campaign staff repeatedly demanded O’Keefe and his team leave the premises, threatening to involve law enforcement.
“We’re going to ask for one more time and then we’re going to have to call the cops,” a staff member warned.
O’Keefe and his team exited the office but continued seeking answers outside, where individuals inside appeared to block the windows and gather following the confrontation.
Another individual outside the campaign office confronted O’Keefe, accusing him of racism while questioning his presence at the campaign headquarters.
“What about me is racist?” O’Keefe responded, explaining that his questions concerned potential violations of federal campaign finance law.
“I want to know why the money is coming from overseas,” O’Keefe stated.
When the individual acknowledged he did not know whether the allegations were accurate, O’Keefe responded, “That’s what he said. No, let me verify that. I’m trying to find out.”
Under 52 U.S.C. § 30121, foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to federal political campaigns. However, U.S. citizens living abroad and lawful permanent residents may legally contribute. Beckwith’s recorded statements do not independently establish that El-Sayed’s campaign received illegal contributions.
The confrontation followed OMG’s undercover reporting in which Beckwith also claimed El-Sayed could lose political support if he publicly denounced Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood.
“He [Abdul El-Sayed] can’t just say, you know, no, I don’t support Hamas, you know, I reject all of them, because he’s going to lose the people that brought him up in the first place,” Beckwith told the undercover journalist.
Beckwith continued, “He [El-Sayed] has to play the game. He has to play the role.”
Following the confrontation, OMG received confirmation from the Michigan Democratic Party that Beckwith had been terminated from his campaign position. Beckwith was still serving as a regional field organizer at the time of the incident.
O’Keefe has filed a police report in Michigan following the assault. The incident was documented under Police Report #2610150266.
OMG previously contacted El-Sayed’s campaign for comment regarding Beckwith’s undercover statements. Questions remain surrounding Beckwith’s allegations about overseas campaign contributions and the campaign’s response when O’Keefe arrived seeking answers.
WATCH the confrontation inside Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign office in Detroit, Michigan.
