Former Michigan congressman Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate for the state’s open US Senate seat, stated in a recent fundraising email that he “saw the dead body of Osama bin Laden with my own eyes,” suggesting a direct role in the terrorist leader’s death. The 2011 killing occurred during a military raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, while bin Laden was shot and killed under then-president Barack Obama’s direction.
Rogers was not present at the compound during the raid on 1 May 2011, nor was he in the White House Situation Room where Obama and senior officials including Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton monitored the operation in real time. Instead, Rogers was in Washington DC. As chair of the House intelligence committee at that time, he received a phone call from CIA director Leon Panetta informing him of the raid. The next day, Rogers told reporters and recounted in a campaign video that he had been at home.
Reporters noted that Rogers apparently was referring to having viewed a photograph of bin Laden’s dead body, a privilege held by select US officials. Days after the raid, Rogers stated that the photograph confirmed bin Laden’s death but supported the decision not to release graphic images publicly, citing concerns about conspiracy theories and potential reactions in the Middle East.
Over the years, Rogers has characterized his role in funding intelligence agencies in vague terms that observers suggested exaggerated his involvement. Since Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim doctor and former public health official, became his Democratic opponent in the Senate race, Rogers has repeatedly referenced his role in counterterrorism efforts. Rogers stated that El-Sayed leads “a movement grounded in ideological fanaticism” and referenced his involvement in “bringing Osama bin Laden to justice.” A New York Times factcheck disputed Rogers’ claim that El-Sayed believes America deserved 9/11, finding instead that the statement came from a supporter of El-Sayed’s and that El-Sayed himself has consistently condemned the attacks.
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