Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in Michigan, confirmed over the weekend that a member of his family was on a federal terror watch list after previously denying the allegations.  

El-Sayed confirmed to Fox News that his sister-in-law was involved in a lawsuit challenging her alleged inclusion on the federal terrorist watchlist during the Obama administration.

Pressed about court records naming Mariam Jukaku, sister of El-Sayed's wife Sarah Jukaku, as a plaintiff in the 2016 case, El-Sayed defended her.

He said she 'did nothing wrong' and successfully challenged her treatment. He also blamed policies backed by Republican rival Mike Rogers.

However, an appeals court overturned a ruling favoring the plaintiffs in 2021, while a separate damages case was dismissed. 

The revelation comes days before former Democratic President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed next Saturday, October 24, in Detroit. 

In a video endorsing El-Sayed earlier this month, Obama urged support for the Michigander, noting: 'Michigan is where we fight back. That's why I'm asking you to support Abdul El-Sayed for the United States Senate.'

Obama also touted El-Sayed as 'a doctor' who has 'taken on special interests to fight for good jobs, better healthcare, and lower costs,' before adding: 'Abdul has never taken corporate money. He understands that healthcare is a human right, and he thinks we should invest here instead of wasting money on endless wars.'

Michigan is one of the true toss-up races in November's midterm elections.

El-Sayed was declared the winner of a rollercoaster Democratic primary for the US Senate after squeaking by with a slim victory over Congresswoman Haley Stevens.

His single-point win raised new questions about whether his strength among base voters can translate to a general election this fall, as Democrats look to flip four Senate seats necessary to secure a majority in the upper chamber.

El-Sayed fared well with Arab-American and younger voters, while Stevens nabbed support from older Democrats as well as African-American voters who do not seem ready to back El-Sayed in November. 

The Michigan Democrat appears to recognize his need to make inroads with black voters, as he has already welcomed former Vice President Kamala Harris to the state, prior to Obama's visit.

Abdul's opponent, Mike Rogers, is a former House GOP lawmaker who spent months as the party's presumptive nominee, waiting on a challenger to emerge from the Democratic Party. 

The US Senate seat in Michigan was rated to be a 'toss-up' by the Cook Political Report.