A leaked audio recording reveals Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison pledging support to individuals later convicted in a $250 million taxpayer fraud scheme, raising explosive questions about whether state leadership enabled rather than prevented one of the largest federal fraud cases in American history.
Story Snapshot
- December 2021 audio captures AG Ellison meeting with Somali community members who would later be convicted in the massive “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme
- Recording shows Ellison expressing frustration with state agencies and promising to help the group if regulators attempted to shut them down
- Congressional Republicans demand accountability as 64 of 98 defendants have been convicted, with allegations funds reached terrorist networks overseas
- Ellison denies wrongdoing, claiming he was unaware of criminal activity, but questions intensify about campaign donations and whistleblower retaliation
Audio Recording Surfaces After Years of Silence
Fox News obtained a December 2021 audio recording of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison meeting with members of the Somali community in his office. The recording captures Ellison pledging support to individuals who would later be convicted in the $250 million “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme. Attorney Kenneth Udoibok, representing convicted ringleader Aimee Bock, unearthed the audio, which was entered as trial evidence but never introduced during proceedings. The recording’s public release in April 2025 ignited congressional scrutiny and renewed demands for investigation into potential misconduct by state leadership.
Massive Fraud Diverted Funds From Vulnerable Americans
The “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme represents one of the largest federal fraud cases in recent history, involving the fraudulent diversion of $250 million intended for child nutrition programs, services for autistic children, housing for low-income seniors, and Medicaid recipients. The Department of Justice has charged 98 defendants, with 64 convicted to date following an extensive investigation involving 1,750 subpoenas, 130 search warrants, and over 1,000 witness interviews. Congressional testimony revealed that 85 of the 98 charged defendants are of Somali descent, with allegations that fraudulent funds were diverted overseas through informal Hawala money transfer networks to Somalia, potentially reaching terrorist organizations including Al-Shabab.
Congressional Hearings Expose Leadership Failures
House Oversight Committee hearings in January 2026 examined the conduct of both AG Ellison and Governor Tim Walz, with Republican lawmakers arguing that state leadership not merely overlooked fraud but actively assisted it. Representative Jim Jordan questioned whether campaign donations flowed from the fraudsters to Ellison’s campaign following the December 2021 meeting, with state representatives confirming such contributions occurred. Congressional testimony also revealed that Ellison and Walz allegedly retaliated against state whistleblowers who raised concerns about the widespread fraud. This pattern undermines the accountability mechanisms that taxpayers depend on to protect federal programs from exploitation.
Ellison Claims Exploitation of Good-Faith Engagement
Ellison’s office responded that he was “surprised to find others present” at what was supposed to be a meeting with one friend in his office suite. His office maintains that “nothing happened as a result of the meeting” and characterized the situation as fraudsters exploiting the Attorney General’s good-faith constituent engagement. Ellison has denied any wrongdoing, stating he was “completely unaware of the fraudsters’ crimes at the time of the meeting.” However, the audio recording contradicts this narrative by capturing Ellison expressing frustration with state regulatory agencies and pledging to help the group maintain funding flows rather than investigating potential criminal activity.
Trump Administration Pursues Accountability
With President Trump back in office in 2026, the federal government continues efforts to hold responsible parties accountable in this massive fraud case. The congressional investigation remains ongoing, with Republican lawmakers calling for legislative solutions to prevent similar schemes and demanding answers about internal communications within Ellison’s office following the December 2021 meeting. Questions persist about whether state leadership will face legal consequences or disciplinary action for their role in what appears to be either gross negligence or active enablement of criminal activity that robbed vulnerable Americans of essential services while enriching fraudsters.
Sources:
Ellison pushes back after secret audio tapes posted online – KSTP
