Federal prosecutors in Michigan have charged 12 people in an alleged scheme to threaten University of Michigan officials to pressure the school to cut ties with Israel. Among those charged is Mariam Odeh, 24, who briefly worked on Abdul El‑Sayed’s Michigan Senate campaign, according to the New York Post, citing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the Detroit News.
What prosecutors allege
The New York Post reported that eight defendants were included in initial indictments in June, and four more alleged co‑conspirators were added on Friday, bringing the total to 12, according to federal prosecutors. The Post said prosecutors accuse the group of threatening University of Michigan officials in an attempt to force the university to cut ties with Israel.
Who is Mariam Odeh?
The Post reported that Odeh was among those originally charged in June. The Detroit News reported that Odeh briefly worked as an hourly employee on El‑Sayed’s campaign for about two weeks and left on April 15 after earning nearly $750. El‑Sayed spokesperson Roxie Richner confirmed those employment details to the paper, the outlet reported. The Post described the defendants as anti‑Israel activists.
Key context and caveats
These are allegations in charging documents; no convictions were reported in the coverage cited. The reporting does not allege wrongdoing by Abdul El‑Sayed.
