Talk about being a little bit deranged and borderline assaulting someone. Wow, this is when Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed thought Election Day was a great time to put his hands on a journalist. Twice. Because nothing says “I’m ready for the U.S. Senate” like manhandling a reporter on a public street.
El-Sayed may not have punched or kicked the reporter, but some people think putting your hands on someone, without permission, might be grounds for an assault charge. Could it hold up in court? That’s another issue.
Sky News correspondent James Matthews was trying to do his job, asking El-Sayed straightforward questions, when the Democrat decided the whole thing was beneath him. El-Sayed walked up to Matthews and hit him with what he clearly thought was a devastating opening line: “Are you registered to vote in the state of Michigan?” Matthews, a U.S.-based British correspondent, said no. El-Sayed’s response: “Why would I care to have a conversation with you?”
That’s when things got hands-on. El-Sayed placed both hands on Matthews’ shoulders and informed him, “You know how many votes I want to get in the U.K.? Zero. I’m never running for office in the U.K.” Matthews tried to point out that the American election “matters to the world” and that El-Sayed was “bidding to be a senator.” El-Sayed wasn’t impressed. “A senator in where? What country? What country?” he asked, grabbing the reporter’s shoulders a second time for emphasis. Matthews answered, plainly, “The United States.” Someone had to be the adult in the conversation.
El-Sayed then demanded to know where Sky News’ viewers were located. Matthews explained that Sky News serves an international audience across 138 countries, with millions of viewers worldwide. El-Sayed dismissed all of that, insisting “Sky News is not viewed in the United States of America” and claiming “like five people” watch it in the U.S. Very scientific. Very senatorial. Abdul El-Sayed Sky News confrontation, El-Sayed wrapped up by telling Matthews to “stop chasing me around” before walking off. Matthews said he wasn’t chasing anyone.
Sky News backed its man completely. We’re proud of our correspondent James Matthews, who was doing his job: covering the election campaign and asking straightforward questions on behalf of our audiences,” a Sky News spokesman told Fox News Digital. “The outcome of US elections has ramifications globally, including in the UK and across the 138 countries worldwide where millions of people consume Sky News.” That’s a lot more than five people, for what it’s worth.
This wasn’t even the first run-in. The day before, Monday, El-Sayed had already warned Matthews, “If you keep being in my way, I’m not going to be very happy.” El-Sayed’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment, which tracks perfectly with a guy who apparently doesn’t like answering questions.
El-Sayed went on to defeat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race, so the man who thinks international press coverage is irrelevant is now heading to Washington. Democrats also flipped control of both the House and Senate in the midterms, dealing Republicans a significant setback. Michigan voters have spoken, and apparently they’re just fine sending a senator who physically grabs reporters to represent them. His colleagues in the world’s greatest deliberative body are in for a very interesting time.
Watch the video and judge for yourself:
