{"id":2540604,"date":"2026-01-17T10:09:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T15:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/somali-city-council-member-resigns-days-after-being-sworn-in-over-criminal-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T10:12:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T15:12:31","slug":"somali-city-council-member-resigns-days-after-being-sworn-in-over-criminal-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/somali-city-council-member-resigns-days-after-being-sworn-in-over-criminal-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Somali City Council Member Resigns Days After Being Sworn in Over Criminal Charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsomali-city-council-member-resigns-days-after-being-sworn-in-over-criminal-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2540604&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Iman osman, a Somali refugee who had just been sworn in to the Lewiston, Maine, City Council, resigned less than a day after a NewsNation investigation implicated a nonprofit he runs in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/psaki-biden-will-not-fire-fauci-under-any-circumstance\/\" title=\"Psaki: Biden will not fire Fauci under \u2018any circumstance\u2019\">alleged mishandling<\/a> of funds raised for victims of the october 2023 Lewiston mass shooting. The Lewiston Auburn Youth Network, led by Osman, reportedly received $65,000 as part of nearly $1.9-$2 million that investigators say was redirected to 29 nonprofits &#8211; including several run by Somali leaders &#8211; instead of going directly to victims.<\/p>\n<p>Relatives and survivors expressed shock and anger. Amy Sussman, whose nephew was killed in the attack, and nurse Jennifer Zanca, who suffered gunshot wounds and large medical bills, said thay were told all money would go to victims and were dismayed to learn of the distributions to outside nonprofits.Osman&#8217;s attorney said he believed Osman would have prevailed in inquiries, but Osman also faces separate legal issues, including felony gun charges and questions about his residency.<\/p>\n<p>Lewiston&#8217;s mayor thanked Osman for stepping aside, saying it was in the city&#8217;s best interest. The controversy comes amid broader federal probes into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/runbeck-election-systems-teamed-up-with-dominion-voting-systems-in-georgia-election-pallets-of-companys-ballots-found-in-fulton-county-warehouse\/\" title=\"Runbeck Election Systems Teamed Up with Dominion Voting Systems in Georgia Election \u2014 Pallets of Company\u2019s Ballots Found in Fulton County Warehouse\">alleged fraud<\/a> by some somali-linked organizations in other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >states involving public benefit programs<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Iman Osman, a refugee from Somalia who had been sworn on to the Lewiston City Council in Maine this week, resigned only hours after a news investigation revealed alleged fraud at a nonprofit he runs.<\/p>\n<p>Osman leads a group called the Lewiston Auburn Youth Network, which received money to help victims in the wake of the October 2023 shooting in the area, which killed 18.<\/p>\n<p>But when NewsNation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/vargasreports\/money-for-mass-shooting-victims-directed-to-somali-linked-nonprofits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> on Wednesday that nearly $2 million in funds for the victims were instead given to 29 nonprofits &mdash; including seven run by Somalis &mdash; Osman&rsquo;s group was one of the entities implicated.<\/p>\n<p>Amy Sussman, whose nephew Max Hathaway was killed in the shooting, investigated and learned that $1.9 million earmarked for victims instead went to the nonprofits.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To learn that 29 nonprofits receive money from that fund, I didn&rsquo;t understand that,&rdquo; she told NewsNation.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They raised money for nonprofits on the backs of 18 people who were murdered, 13 people who were shot, and 136 people who escaped their attempted murder,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They used that to raise money for nonprofits.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer Zanca, a nurse shot twice during the attack and who struggled to pay a $93,000 hospital bill afterward, also voiced confusion.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They told us that night that 100 percent of the funds would go to the victims,&rdquo; she recalled.<\/p>\n<p>Osman&rsquo;s group took $65,000 from the fund, according to NewsNation, and he stepped down less than 24 hours after the investigation was published.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Mr. Osman resigned from the Lewiston City Council this morning,&rdquo; his attorney <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/vargasreports\/maine-city-councilman-resigns-nonprofit-victim-funds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> NewsNation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He is confident that he would have prevailed in the investigation, just as he did when these questions were raised to the city clerk before the election and to the School Committee,&rdquo; the lawyer asserted.<\/p>\n<p>Osman&rsquo;s legal troubles do not end with the alleged fraud.<\/p>\n<p>He also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-faces-felony-gun-charges\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden faces felony gun charges.\">faces felony gun charges<\/a>, and he was under investigation for his residency.<\/p>\n<p>Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline commended Osman&rsquo;s decision to resign.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;On behalf of the City, I want to thank Councilor Osman for choosing to step aside,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This choice is in the best interest of the City as we have important work ahead of us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The controversy comes as the federal government investigates widespread alleged fraud from Somali communities in Minnesota and other states.<\/p>\n<p>Various investigations have pointed to signs of Somalis taking money from public child care and health care programs while not providing services.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ]; 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