{"id":2576043,"date":"2026-03-04T13:28:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mn-attorney-general-says-he-was-duped-by-feeding-our-future-fraudsters\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:30:34","slug":"mn-attorney-general-says-he-was-duped-by-feeding-our-future-fraudsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mn-attorney-general-says-he-was-duped-by-feeding-our-future-fraudsters\/","title":{"rendered":"MN attorney general says he was duped by Feeding Our Future fraudsters"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/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%2Fmn-attorney-general-says-he-was-duped-by-feeding-our-future-fraudsters%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=2576043&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>During a House Committee on Oversight adn Government Reform hearing on fraud and misuse of federal funds in Minnesota, Attorney General Keith ellison testified that he was misled by individuals tied to the Feeding Our Future scheme, describing them as fraudsters who lied to him and to others. Ellison said the December 2021 meeting with Somali community leaders\u2014which he framed as routine outreach\u2014was misrepresented by attendees who were dishonest about their activities. The case has as expanded to about 98 defendants tied to what prosecutors say was a scheme diverting roughly $250 million in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-walz-ends-his-campaign-an-old-photo-of-him-has-begun-to-circulate-and-it-can-end-his-governorship\/\" title=\"As Walz Ends His Campaign, an Old Photo of Him Has Begun to Circulate and It Can End His Governorship\">federal child-nutrition funds<\/a>. An audio recording from the 2021 meeting appeared to show Ellison promising to back the group if state agencies tried to shut them down, though he insisted the meeting was not unusual and that he regularly meets with communities. Republicans pressed Ellison on what he knew about the FBI investigation at the time and questioned the timing and the attendees\u2019 ties to the case. Ellison\u2019s office later said Minnesota had been deeply involved for two years in holding Feeding Our Future accountable. Democrats argued that focusing on Ellison\u2019s interactions with the group distracts from broader immigration enforcement issues in Minnesota.  <\/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\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Minnesota attorney general says he was duped by Feeding Our Future fraudsters: &lsquo;They lied to everyone&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2521799\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a> Attorney General&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4457583\/keith-ellison-strategy-deny-senate-hearing-byron-york\/\">Keith Ellison<\/a>&nbsp;said during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/live-updates-kristi-noem-house-hearing-immigration-dhs-oversight\/?highlight=4480137\">hearing<\/a> on Wednesday that he was misled by individuals tied to the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, acknowledging that the people he met with in 2021 &ldquo;were fraudsters&rdquo; who deceived him.<\/p>\n<p>Questioned by Rep.&nbsp;Tim Burchett (R-TN)&nbsp;about <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4456034\/josh-hawley-minnesota-attorney-general-keith-ellison-indicted-fraud-reports\/\">a December 2021 meeting<\/a> he had with figures found to be involved in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3354423\/minnesota-nonprofit-leader-convicted-covid-19-fraud-scheme\/\">Feeding Our Future fraud case<\/a>, Ellison said the individuals he spoke with were dishonest about their activities and misrepresented the situation surrounding the nonprofit network.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison listens during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on oversight of fraud and misuse of Federal funds in Minnesota, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Let me just be clear. These people were fraudsters,&rdquo; Ellison said. The case has grown to include 98 defendants since state and federal prosecutors began investigating the matter in 2022. &ldquo;They were liars. They lied to me, they lied to courts, they lied to everyone.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>An <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/kstp.com\/kstp-news\/top-news\/ellison-pushes-back-after-secret-audio-tapes-posted-online\/\">audio recording of the 2021 meeting<\/a> showed Ellison appear to promise the Somali business leaders that he would back them if state agencies tried to shut down their operations.<\/p>\n<p>Ellison said during the hearing on Wednesday that meeting with community members who are raising concerns about government programs is a routine part of his role as attorney general. He defended the meeting as standard outreach, even though several people connected to the nonprofit network were later charged in the sprawling fraud investigation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I do meet with community meetings all the time. It&rsquo;s a regular part of my job,&rdquo; Ellison said. &ldquo;Nothing unusual about me meeting with people. Nothing unusual about me telling people if you&rsquo;ve got a problem, my office will try to help you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Later in the hearing, Rep.&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/andy-biggs\/\">Andy Biggs<\/a> (R-AZ)&nbsp;questioned Ellison about the same meeting, referencing comments from the audio recording in which Ellison can be heard criticizing state agencies investigating the nonprofit network.<\/p>\n<p>Biggs said several of the individuals present at the meeting were later convicted in the fraud scheme and asked Ellison whether he recalled telling the group that scrutiny of their organizations was &ldquo;piddly, stupid stuff&rdquo; harming small businesses. He also quizzed the attorney general about several of the named defendants in the case, a majority of whom are of Somali origin.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WATCH: AG Ellison Repeatedly Doesn&#8217;t Have the Answer to Representative Biggs Questions &ndash; 03\/04\/26 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gD4ujFNf7P\">pic.twitter.com\/gD4ujFNf7P<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; RSBN &#127482;&#127480; (@RSBNetwork) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RSBNetwork\/status\/2029243834224320824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Ellison reiterated that the attendees had misled him and investigators and denied recognizing several of the Feeding Our Future defendants Biggs read aloud.<\/p>\n<p>Biggs also suggested Ellison later <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/04\/14\/us-news\/minnesota-ag-keith-ellison-accepted-campaign-donations-from-individuals-linked-to-250m-covid-fraud-scheme\/\">accepted as much as $10,000 in campaign donations<\/a> tied to individuals involved in the case, an allegation Ellison rejected during the hearing.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would disagree with that characterization entirely,&rdquo; Ellison said.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans on the committee argued the meeting raises questions about what Minnesota officials knew about the fraud and when they knew it. The scrutiny comes as federal prosecutors continue pursuing cases <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4471850\/woman-pleads-guilty-stealing-millions-feeding-our-future\/\">connected to the Feeding Our Future scandal<\/a>, which authorities say involved roughly $250 million in federal child nutrition funds diverted through fraudulent meal distribution sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the hearing, Rep.&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-emmer\/\">Tom Emmer<\/a> (R-MN)&nbsp;cited what he said was a 54-minute audio recording of the December 2021 meeting and said Ellison told attendees he was &ldquo;here to help&rdquo; when they complained about increased scrutiny of their nonprofit groups.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">House Majority Whip and Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer TORCHES AG Keith Ellison for his relationship with Somali fraudsters:<\/p>\n<p>EMMER: &#8220;You told them &#8216;of course I&#8217;m here to help.&#8217; It&#8217;s on the internet. Anyone can listen to you say that.&#8221; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eZ6GYSzrW0\">pic.twitter.com\/eZ6GYSzrW0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2029209519608176735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Emmer also pointed to a later statement from Ellison&rsquo;s office saying it had been &ldquo;deeply involved for two years in holding Feeding Our Future accountable,&rdquo; arguing the timeline raises questions about Ellison&rsquo;s awareness of the allegations at the time of the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you had this meeting in December 2021, did you know about the long-running FBI investigation into Feeding Our Future?&rdquo; Emmer asked.<\/p>\n<p>Ellison initially dodged Emmer&rsquo;s questions earlier in the hearing but said he had already addressed the issue publicly.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/live-updates-kristi-noem-house-hearing-immigration-dhs-oversight\/?highlight=4480137\">LIVE UPDATES: KRISTI NOEM TESTIFIES BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON DHS OVERSIGHT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> spent a majority of the hearing criticizing Republicans as placating President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump <\/a>by focusing on the fraud in the state, arguing it was a distraction from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ice-sweeps-into-nyc-and-immediately-scores-a-big-win-infamous-suspect-taken-into-custody\/\" title=\"ICE Sweeps Into NYC and Immediately Scores a Big Win - Infamous Suspect Taken Into Custody\">broader immigration crackdown<\/a> that took place in the Twin Cities at the start of the year.<\/p>\n<p>Federal authorities have charged dozens of defendants in connection with the Feeding Our Future case, which prosecutors have described as one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >largest pandemic-era fraud schemes uncovered<\/a> in the United States. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ellison: duped by Feeding Our Future fraudsters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2576044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26063562410619.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[75074,75073,6909,3976,5698],"class_list":["post-2576043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-attorneygeneral","tag-feedingourfuture","tag-fraud","tag-investigation","tag-minnesota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26063562410619.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576043"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576047,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576043\/revisions\/2576047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}