A bombshell video has surfaced allegedly showing Hamtramck City Council member Abu Musa engaging in suspicious ballot-handling activities just days before a critical local primary election. The footage, verified by Michigan State Police, depicts Musa sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle as another individual deposits multiple stacks of absentee ballots into a drop box on August 1, 2025. The incident is now part of an ongoing investigation, adding to the election turmoil in Hamtramck.
Ballot Manipulation Allegations Shake Primary Election
Just days before the August 5 primary election, Musa was caught on camera handing over bundles of what appeared to be absentee ballots to another individual who subsequently deposited them. Despite this scandal, Musa secured the most votes in the primary election, with 1,129 ballots cast in his name—12.5% of the total votes in a 12-candidate race. Notably, 843 of those were absentee votes.
This controversy comes on the heels of election fraud charges filed against Musa’s council colleagues, Muhtasin Sadman and Mohammed Hassan, accused of forging ballots in the tightly contested 2023 elections. The pair allegedly conspired to complete absentee ballots for naturalized citizens without their consent, a claim supported by Attorney General Dana Nessel’s previous investigation documents.
Attorney General Recuses Herself Amid Criticism
Attorney General Dana Nessel, initially involved in Hamtramck’s ballot forgery investigations, recused herself from the case due to ongoing allegations of bias. Nessel, a Jewish lesbian, had previously faced backlash for her criticism of the city council’s decision to ban Pride flags from city properties. The Muslim-majority council’s controversial stances have repeatedly drawn national attention, making this scandal yet another contentious chapter for the city.
Nessel explained her decision to step back, citing potential criticism since five of the council members under investigation are of Arab descent. This move followed prior accusations of anti-Muslim bias in unrelated cases, further complicating the political narrative surrounding the legal procedures.
Hamtramck: America’s First All-Muslim Council Faces Scrutiny
Hamtramck, a small city in Metro Detroit with over 70% of its 28,000 residents identifying as Muslim, became the first American city governed by an all-Muslim council in 2022. Its Mayor, Amer Ghalib, made headlines last year by endorsing Donald Trump for President, an unusual move in political circles. Trump, in turn, nominated Ghalib to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait.
However, the city’s election processes are under fire following reports from the Hamtramck City Clerk, Rana Faraj, who pointed out irregularities in absentee ballots. Faraj noticed patterns such as identical handwriting on envelopes and large bundles of ballots being dropped off simultaneously. “State laws clearly state that ballots should only be handled by individuals or their family members. However, here, everyone seems to be acting as cousins,” Faraj remarked.
With a city council divided by legal battles and election controversies, residents and state officials await the outcome of these unfolding investigations, which could significantly shape the future of this politically unique community.
