Mariam Odeh, 24, was among eight people initially indicted by the U.S. attorney’s office.
By Shula Rosen
A former campaign worker for Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is among 12 anti-Israel activists indicted in a federal investigation into alleged threats, vandalism and intimidation targeting University of Michigan officials, members of the Jewish community and others with perceived ties to Israel.
Mariam Odeh, 24, a University of Michigan student and president of Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, was among eight people initially indicted by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Federal prosecutors announced four additional indictments Friday, bringing the total number of defendants to 12, with two reportedly still at large.
Odeh worked on an hourly basis for El-Sayed’s campaign from February through mid-April 2026.
She was charged in June with conspiracy to transmit threats and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
Federal prosecutors allege the defendants participated in a coordinated campaign intended to pressure the University of Michigan to divest from Israel.
University officials and regents, local businesses and members of the Jewish community were among those targeted, according to prosecutors.
Actions attributed to members of the group include vandalizing homes, smashing windows and spray-painting anti-Israel and antisemitic slogans, including “INTIFADA,” along with red inverted triangles.
Prosecutors also accuse members of the group of placing fake corpses on lawns and throwing jars containing noxious chemicals or stink bombs into residential homes. The investigation also includes allegations that potential acts of violence were discussed.
Odeh and her co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. The allegations against them have not been proven in court.
The indictment places a former worker for El-Sayed’s campaign among those accused in the federal case as the Michigan politician campaigns for the U.S. Senate. Odeh’s employment with the campaign occurred earlier in 2026, before she was charged in June.
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