Brenda Abdelall, an Egyptian-American lawyer recently appointed by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign to lead its Arab-American outreach, is facing criticism for comments she made in 2002 about Zionist influence in American politics.

The remarks, made while Abdelall was a college student attending a convention for the American Muslim Council, resurfaced in a Washington Free Beacon article on Friday. During the convention, one speaker claimed, “Zionists are destroying America.” In response, Abdelall was quoted by The New York Sun as saying, �Destroying is a harsh word,� but added, �The Zionists have a strong voice in American politics. I would say they�re controlling a lot of it.� She referenced the then-recent electoral defeat of U.S. Rep. Earl Hilliard, who had voted against a resolution supporting Israel, attributing his loss to significant support from pro-Israel groups for his opponent.

The Harris campaign quickly responded to the report, saying, �Those 2002 comments do not reflect Brenda�s views or the views of the campaign.� The campaign highlighted Abdelall’s subsequent career, noting her work as a lawyer and her role at the Department of Homeland Security, where she became chief of staff for the department�s civil rights office. A campaign spokesperson emphasized that Abdelall played a key role in implementing the country’s first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and organizing a White House summit against hate-fueled violence.

Abdelall herself has not issued a statement regarding the resurfaced comments.

The scrutiny comes at a critical time for Harris�s campaign. Votes from Muslim and Arab Americans could prove decisive in battleground states like Michigan, where Abdelall grew up. The Arab-American community in Michigan, numbering around 100,000, has become a focal point due to concerns that some voters who supported President Joe Biden in 2020 may withhold their support in protest against the administration�s stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza.

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