RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesRep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., said Wednesday that far-left streamer Hasan Piker "should be condemned," publicly breaking with a prominent campaign ally of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed as Democrats try to unite after a bruising Michigan primary and hold an open battleground Senate seat in November.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed last week, reiterated her criticism of Piker on NewsNation's "Vargas Reports" when host Elizabeth Vargas asked about the streamer’s involvement in the race.
"I believe he should be condemned. I do. I said that, that's what I was just saying to you," Stevens said. "I was saying, On election day, I said that, and if asked again, and you're asking me, I do think he should be condemned. I don't know what the guy has to do with Michigan."
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Republican National Committee national spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre, responding to the growing scrutiny of Piker, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Democrats should formally disavow him.
"Hasan Piker is a Hamas-hugging radical with a long history of threatening rape and violence against those he disagrees with," Baldassarre said. "Democrats would do right to disavow him, but they'll continue to bend to his will like spineless, useful idiots."
Stevens also rejected the idea that Piker represented the Democratic Party and questioned his place in its politics.
"I don't agree with Piker. I don't think he's a part of the Democratic Party, she said. "You know, maybe Bernie can talk to him. I don't really know."
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Piker became one of El-Sayed's most visible outside supporters during the Michigan primary, appearing alongside the candidate at campaign events and joining him at a Detroit pool party on the eve of the election. The appearance came as El-Sayed's association with Piker became an increasingly prominent issue in the closing stretch of the race.
Hours before polls closed, Stevens told Fox News Digital that El-Sayed should distance himself from the streamer and denounce his rhetoric.
"I don't believe Mr. Piker lives here in our state. I do think his rhetoric should be denounced," Stevens said. "I do think that my opponent should distance himself from him."
ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN'T MEAN HE ENDORSES 'AMERICA DESERVED 9/11' REMARK
Despite that criticism, Stevens said after losing the primary that she would support El-Sayed against Republican nominee Mike Rogers in November. During a Tuesday appearance on Fox News’ "America’s Newsroom," Stevens said Democratic primary voters had made their choice while emphasizing that she would not abandon her own political positions.
"I believe in democracy. He won the majority of the votes, and I'm going to continue to stand by my positions," Stevens said.
El-Sayed previously rejected some of Piker's most controversial remarks while resisting pressure to sever ties with him. When NBC host Kristen Welker asked El-Sayed about Piker's past statement that "America deserved 9/11," El-Sayed called the remark a "dumb statement" and said the United States did not deserve the terrorist attacks while criticizing what he characterized as "cancel culture."
"Of course it was a dumb statement and, of course, I think Hasan himself would say that was a dumb statement," El-Sayed said.
El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in November for an open seat created by the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., one of the contests expected to help determine control of the Senate.
Fox News Digital reached out to Piker, El-Sayed, Sanders and Stevens for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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