A Democratic nominee for the University of Michigan Board of Regents previously served as defense attorney for a man accused of plotting a Halloween attack on nightclubs in suburban Detroit on behalf of the Islamic State group. The nominee, Dearborn lawyer Amir Makled, represented Mohmed Ali after his October 2025 arrest but later withdrew from the case, citing the client’s inability to pay.

Before federal charges were filed, Makled publicly questioned the strength of the case and suggested that the arrests reflected bias against the Muslim community in Dearborn. He described his client as a lawful firearms enthusiast and denied that any mass-casualty plot existed. Federal prosecutors later charged Ali and another suspect, alleging they coordinated with overseas contacts tied to the Islamic State group, purchased firearms, practiced at gun ranges, and scouted locations that attract members of the gay community.

Court filings allege the suspects discussed plans through text messages and phone calls and researched past extremist attacks. The charges were announced shortly after national media coverage highlighted community skepticism about the arrests.

Makled has also faced scrutiny for previously shared social media posts praising leaders of Hezbollah and criticizing Israel, prompting one labor union to withdraw its endorsement. Despite the controversy, the Michigan Democratic Party nominated him for the statewide regent position.