Several prominent Minnesota Democrats, including statewide officials and local leaders, received campaign contributions from individuals who were later charged in what prosecutors describe as the largest welfare fraud scheme in U.S. history.
According to reporting from the New York Post, more than $53,000 in stolen taxpayer money was funneled to the campaigns of Minnesota Democrats as political donations.
The funds are associated with the Feeding Our Future scandal, a scheme that allegedly siphoned off more than $250 million in taxpayer-funded federal child nutrition funds.
Key Minnesota Democrats Received Contributions Linked to Fraud Defendants
Among the recipients listed in campaign finance records:
Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison accepted $10,000 in donations from businessmen later implicated in the FBI’s sweeping investigation.
One donor, Gandi Mohamed, gave the maximum $2,500 to Ellison’s reelection campaign and was subsequently indicted on federal bribery and fraud charges.
Ellison reportedly received three additional maxed-out $2,500 contributions from fraudsters connected to Feeding Our Future.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) received contributions from individuals tied to the “nonprofit.”
She also sponsored legislation that expanded access to federal nutrition funds, the same program allegedly exploited in the scheme, according to public records and contemporaneous reporting.
Omar’s bill made most of the fraudulent scheme possible.
Jeremiah Ellison, a Democrat Minneapolis City Council member and Keith Ellison’s son, received $3,000.
Minneapolis’s Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey received $9,000.
Minnesota State Sen. Omar Fateh (D) accepted $11,000 in contributions linked to individuals now facing federal charges.
All donations occurred before the indictments were announced.
There is currently no evidence that the recipients were aware of any alleged criminal activity by the donors when the contributions were made.
Zero donations to Republican campaigns have been uncovered.
Scope of the Fraud Investigation Continues to Expand
The Feeding Our Future case has already resulted in 75 indictments, with more than half of the defendants entering guilty pleas.
Federal prosecutors allege the defendants created fake meal sites, falsified invoices, and laundered taxpayer money through shell companies, luxury purchases, and overseas accounts.
The scandal has raised questions about oversight within Minnesota’s Department of Education and the role of state leadership in approving reimbursements.
Critics argue that political pressure, administrative failures, and insufficient auditing contributed to the rapid expansion of the program.
State Political Leadership Faces Renewed Scrutiny
While the donations themselves do not prove wrongdoing by elected officials, the financial connections between state leaders and individuals later charged in the fraud case have fueled calls for further transparency.
Attorney General Ellison has denied any impropriety and has stated that his office is committed to prosecuting fraud.
Rep. Omar has also rejected allegations of misconduct.
None of the politicians named in campaign filings has been accused by federal prosecutors of participating in the scheme.
Broader Implications for Minnesota
As the investigation continues, analysts note that Minnesota’s political environment and its management of federal funds during the pandemic-era expansion of nutrition programs will likely face sustained public and legislative scrutiny.
Federal authorities have indicated that additional indictments are possible as their multi-year investigation moves forward.
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