According to Fox News reporting, donors included CAIR national Board Chair Manal Fakhoury, Board Treasurer Eyas Abdeen, Vice Chair Emad Sabbah, and Tayeb—El-Sayed's father-in-law. Contributions came from CAIR affiliates in multiple states including California, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and others. According to Fox News, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad (listed in some FEC records under a variant spelling) was also among the donors. Democrats on the subcommittee boycotted the hearing, according to Congressional sources cited by reporting outlets. They characterized the hearing as a political stunt aimed at scapegoating Muslim Americans and argued that Cruz was using the proceedings to attack El-Sayed on the eve of the primary.