LANSING, MI - One day after gubernatorial candidate Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, was the center of a national media story and accused of peddling conspiracy theories, he expanded on his comments in a Senate floor speech.

On Wednesday, Buzzfeed News reported on Colbeck's comments. In a video of what appears to be Colbeck's voice over a presentation, Colbeck alleges without substantiating it that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group considered to be a terrorist organization by some foreign governments.

The presentation slide talks about "civilization jihad," and suggests placing Muslims in powerful positions is part of that plan. El-Sayed's photo appears on the next slide, titled "positions of influence."

On Thursday, Colbeck brought the controversy to the Senate Floor during floor statements, a period of time senators sometimes use to talk about issues that are important to them or recognize people from their districts or charitable causes.

He talked about a document called the "Explanatory Memorandum," something he said outlined the intent of the Muslim Brotherhood and other groups affiliated with it to implement Islamic law in America. The plan that included an anti-American agenda known as "civilization jihad" to eliminate and destroy the Western civilization from within, Colbeck said.

"All of this information is a matter of evidentiary fact. It is not conjecture. It is not a conspiracy theory, as some have asserted," Colbeck said.

The memo is a 1991 document recovered by the FBI in the course of a money-laundering trial, according to The Bridge Initiative, a project of Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. The Bridge Initiative noted there is no evidence it was adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood, describing it as a single author's "utopian vision." The Bridge Initiative and others have described "civilization jihad" as a conspiracy theory.

Colbeck said those calling him a racist or xenophobe were trying to silence the truth, and he would continue to speak it regardless of any name-calling.

"We cannot afford to be silent on this issue, my colleagues. The organizations which share the professed mission of the Muslim Brotherhood to destroy our nation from within are real, not theoretical. They are active right here in the state of Michigan," Colbeck said.

Sen. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, also spoke on the Senate floor. He called Colbeck's comments "ignorant and close-minded."

Knezek said his comments did not extend to the chamber's other Republicans, many of whom have expressed support for his Muslim friends and constituents.

"We do have a lot of good people here in this chamber. Good people who are embarrassed by this type of behavior and rhetoric," Knezek said.

Michigan Republican Party spokeswoman Sarah Anderson said in a statement Wednesday the party "isn't interested in peddling any conspiracy theories."

Knezek closed his comments on the Senate floor by inviting Colbeck to his district, which has a large Muslim population.

"For maybe the fourth or fifth time now, I'd like to invite the senator from the seventh district to join me in my district to meet with some American Muslims. Because I believe you will find that same patriotism and love of country in their hearts as he claims to have in his," Knezek said.

In a statement Wednesday, El-Sayed said he knew "in choosing to run for Governor as an unapologetic, proud Muslim and American, I was going to contend with the ugly face of white supremacy that Donald Trump and his friends have sanctioned." Thursday, he tweeted a response as well.

My face when I get accused by bigoted conspiracy theorists that I’m trying to take over the country when I’m really just trying to get folks healthcare, a livable wage, and better education: pic.twitter.com/AvZrmdlVEZ — Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) April 26, 2018

After Senate session on Thursday a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, declined to comment on what had transpired.

"Senator Meekhof has absolutely no comments on Senator Colbeck," Amber McCann said.

Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, kept his comments short.

"I think he's continuing to prove that he's an ass, and that's all I'm going to say about that," Ananich said.