Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's longtime aide, Tara Terpstra, has a history of promoting sham brain pills for a company that has been accused of operating a pyramid scheme. Terpstra, who is currently the operations director for El-Sayed's campaign, previously worked as an independent distributor for Nerium, a company that has been sued by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly operating an illegal pyramid scheme.
Nerium's Troubled Past
In 2017, a group of Nerium distributors filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of operating an illegal pyramid scheme. The company has also been sued by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly making false claims about its products, including a coffee extract called EHT that was touted as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Terpstra promoted Nerium's products on social media, claiming that they could be used to treat Alzheimer's disease and other neurocognitive conditions. She also touted the company's bonus programs, which included offers of iPads, Lexuses, and cash. However, the Federal Trade Commission has alleged that these bonus programs were deceptive and that only a small percentage of Nerium sellers actually made a profit.
Abdul El-Sayed has been a vocal critic of unproven health remedies and has portrayed himself as a leading voice against medical misinformation. However, his association with Terpstra and her history of promoting sham brain pills raises questions about his judgment and credibility.
It is unclear how El-Sayed first connected with Terpstra and whether he was aware of her work for Nerium before he hired her. However, Terpstra has become one of El-Sayed's closest aides over the past decade, and has worked for him in various roles, including as a producer for his podcast, America Dissected.