Omar Allies Implicated in Massive Minnesota COVID-19 relief Fraud
MINNEAPOLIS – Allies of Rep. Ilhan Omar are linked to a widespread fraud scheme involving COVID-19 relief funds intended to feed children, according to federal authorities and a growing inquiry. The scheme, considered the largest of its kind in the United states, has resulted in at least 78 defendants being charged as of November.
The fraud centers around a network of somali groups in Minnesota accused of misappropriating funds allocated for meal programs during the pandemic. Abdi said, a key figure in the alleged scheme, worked as an “enforcer” overseeing voter turnout efforts in the Somali community during Omar’s 2018 and 2020 campaigns. Authorities allege Said claimed the groups served 5,000 meals a day to children while allegedly pocketing millions in federal funds.
The Justice Department alleges the fraud involved falsely claiming to provide meals to children during the pandemic through federal programs like the Federal child Nutrition Program.The Small Business Management is currently investigating the network of somali groups, and the House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into the role of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized Omar and the Somali community on Wednesday, alleging “billions of dollars” had been fraudulently obtained. “These Somalians have taken billions of dollars out of our country,” Trump told reporters. He also repeated unsubstantiated claims about omar’s personal life, stating, “She should be thrown the hell out of our country.” He further asserted that Omar and her associates “shouldn’t even be allowed to be Congresspeople.”
The Trump administration previously blamed Minnesota officials for insufficient oversight of the programs. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to untangle the complex web of alleged fraudulent activity and determine the full extent of the misappropriated funds.
