Political Donations to Somali Candidate Raise Questions About Minnesota Childcare Fraud
The connection between political donations and taxpayer-funded fraud is a growing concern, especially as a Somali-American candidate in Washington state experiences scrutiny over her campaign contributions. Ubax Gardheere received funds tied to Minnesota child care firms, many of which are currently under investigation for fraudulent activities. This situation raises alarming questions about how public money may be misappropriated on a national level.
Gardheere’s campaign literature highlights her background as a “single black immigrant woman from Somalia.” Yet, the financial support from donors linked to suspect Minnesota child care centers has cast a shadow over her bid for office. One donor associated with a Minneapolis child care center is linked to a state inquiry into fraud and licensing violations. Despite these connections, Gardheere hasn’t faced allegations of wrongdoing, and her campaign has not publicly addressed the origins of the donations.
The backdrop of this controversy is a substantial scandal in Minnesota involving extensive fraud within social welfare programs, particularly the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Investigations by state and federal authorities have flagged various child care facilities accused of inflating attendance numbers, misreporting staff credentials, and not adhering to safety standards. Estimates indicate a staggering $1 billion in losses to taxpayers from malfeasance in these programs.
Public awareness of the situation intensified after a viral social media post. One user suggested the potential funneling of illicit funds to preferred Somali candidates throughout the country, illustrating a disturbing pattern. Independent journalist Nick Shirley’s video evidence showcases the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis and further underscores the issues. Shirley’s investigation revealed taxpayer funding issued to a center that appeared vacant and had alarming discrepancies in its official signage. The atmosphere inside the facility was tense; a woman inside shouted, “Don’t open up. It’s ICE,” when he began questioning its operations.
The Quality Learning Center carries a troubling history, with 95 violations recorded from 2019 to 2023. These violations range from inadequate staff background checks to poor hygiene practices. Despite these red flags, the center received approximately $1.9 million in CCAP funds for the fiscal year 2025 alone, with its operational license extended through 2026.
This troubling oversight is part of a broader pattern. By late 2024, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) had 62 active investigations into similar facilities. Bipartisan efforts led by lawmakers, including Rep. Kristin Robbins, emphasize the urgent need for accountability and safety. “We want to have a partnership with the agency to make sure that Minnesotans have care… but also… that it’s a safe environment,” Robbins stated during a legislative review prompted by media reports.
Temporary DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi reported that, since 2020, investigators had recovered $2.4 million and halted payments to 79 providers. However, these figures only scratch the surface; estimates suggest an annual loss of roughly $100 million to fraud within Minnesota’s daycare system. Gandhi highlighted the return on investment for fraud investigations: “For every dollar we spend on an investigator, we have an average return on investment of $1.89.”
Enforcement measures have expanded to include raids on facilities suspected of wrongdoing. The Baraka Child Care Center in Minneapolis was shut down during a coordinated operation involving federal, state, and local agents. Documentation revealed the center falsely claimed funding for children who did not exist, an egregious example of the fraud plaguing these programs.
Steve Hanson, a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, painted a broad picture of the issue. He described the fraud as “widespread” and “national.” Providers often manipulate attendance logs, making the scheme difficult to expose. Hanson explained, “Whether you add three children onto a sign-in sheet, and you’re one of 80,000 providers, the chances of someone proactively finding you are probably small.”
The fraudulent activities reported in Minnesota reach into deeper, troubling waters. In May 2024, the Justice Department charged five individuals as part of a larger social services fraud case, some connected to the controversial Feeding Our Future nonprofit. This group is accused of stealing over $250 million from food assistance programs. Prosecutors have alleged that some of the misappropriated funds made their way to Somalia, suggesting a potential link to Al-Shabaab, a group accused of funding through taxation.
Since the investigations began, over 80 arrests have been made. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson clarified that while there is no direct evidence linking state funds to Al-Shabaab, indirect funding pathways do exist. “The funds often arrived in Somalia and were taxed by the controlling authority—Al-Shabaab,” Thompson noted during a briefing.
The whistleblowers within the Minnesota DHS highlighting these fraudulent activities have faced retaliation instead of support. One staff member articulated their frustration in an online statement, asserting, “Tim Walz is 100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota. We let [Governor] Tim Walz know of fraud early on, hoping for a partnership in stopping fraud, but no, we got the opposite response.”
In response to the pressing problem, lawmakers from both parties have called for greater oversight. Proposed reforms include enhancing the powers of investigators to suspend licenses and withhold funds not only from ownership but from anyone involved in managing a facility. The Walz administration has suggested an additional $7.24 million over the next two years aimed at improving fraud detection, including bolstering staff and refining data integration across agencies.
Concerns linger about the implementation speed of these measures. Until centers with known violations cease receiving public funds, public confidence in the system remains in jeopardy. The ties between political donations and underlying fraud may lead to further scrutiny and legal consequences. Nick Shirley’s pointed observation, referring to a virtually empty state-funded daycare that couldn’t even get “learning” right on its front door, encapsulates the issue starkly: “There’s no one here… This is a prime example of the billions of dollars stolen or wasted across the U.S.”
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