Several Minnesota Democrats, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, find themselves embroiled in a scandal tied to extensive welfare fraud allegedly linked to the Somali community. This situation revolves around the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which is accused of misusing $250 million that was meant for feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of fulfilling its intended purpose, the money reportedly funded luxury purchases, including mansions and shopping sprees, with total losses potentially reaching $1 billion. As investigations unfold, 75 individuals have already been indicted, many of whom have pleaded guilty to charges such as wire fraud and bribery.
Illinois Attorney General Keith Ellison, who oversees law enforcement in Minnesota, appears to have received campaign donations totaling $10,000 from businessmen connected to the fraud. This includes three notable donations collected on the same day after a meeting in 2021 with Somali business leaders, some of whom later faced indictments. Among those implicated is Gandi Mohamed, who faced federal bribery and fraud charges in 2024.
Rep. Omar’s connection to the situation deepens through her introduction of the 2020 MEALS Act, legislation that passed with key bipartisan support. This act effectively relaxed federal regulations governing meal programs, waiving crucial site inspections and allowing bulk take-home food with minimal verification. Critics argue these changes set the stage for the massive fraud that followed. Omar’s campaign reportedly accepted $7,400 from three individuals later convicted of fraud but returned the funds only after the indictments were made in 2022.
Further clouding the issue, Omar celebrated her 2018 congressional victory at Safari Restaurant, co-owned by Salim Ahmed Said, who was recently convicted of stealing over $12 million by reporting 3.9 million fictitious meals. Despite this, Omar has distanced herself from the wrongdoing, claiming no prior knowledge. Bill Glahn from the Center of the American Experiment challenges that assertion, stating, “She knew who these people were. People she personally knew were making tens of millions of dollars in this program… Either she’s terminally naive or knew and didn’t care.” This statement reflects the serious implications behind Omar’s connections.
Other local officials have also come under scrutiny. Minneapolis City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison, son of Keith Ellison, received thousands from donors linked to the scandal, with his campaign returning the funds shortly after the news broke. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey garnered $9,000 from nine defendants in the case, and although his campaign returned the donations, he was re-elected in November 2025. State Sen. Omar Fateh also received $11,000 from connected donors but returned the funds when the press scrutinized the scandal.
Bill Glahn further noted the peculiarity of two major mayoral candidates receiving significant donations from the fraudsters with little impact on the election results. State Sen. John Hoffman and former State Rep. John Thompson were also identified as recipients of funds from the alleged scammers, underscoring a troubling pattern of financial contributions to Minnesota Democrats.
With investigations still ongoing, the sheer magnitude of the scandal—and its connections to prominent Democratic figures—raises pressing questions about accountability and oversight in political fundraising. As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how these allegations will affect the careers of those involved.
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