Ilhan Omar Accused of ‘Ties’ to $1 Billion Somali-Linked Welfare Fraud in Minneapolis

With less than a year until the 2026 midterms, a political firestorm is erupting in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District—where Republican challenger John Nagel is sounding the alarm over what he calls “deep, dangerous ties” between Rep. Ilhan Omar and the largest welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota history.

“This isn’t some random coincidence,” Nagel told a conservative media outlet this week. “This fraud was incubated in Ilhan Omar’s district, under her nose, by people in her own circle—and she opened the door with her legislation.”

The scandal—known as the Feeding Our Future case—involved over $1 billion in stolen federal pandemic relief funds that were supposed to provide meals for hungry children. Instead, dozens of Somali-led nonprofits allegedly pocketed the cash, purchasing luxury cars, overseas real estate, and more.

More than 70 people have been indicted—many of them Omar’s political allies or donors, including a former campaign “enforcer,” restaurant owners who hosted her fundraisers, and even a staff member.

Nagel says it’s no coincidence the fraud’s epicenter was Omar’s own district.

At the heart of the scandal is the 2020 MEALS Act, authored by Omar and passed during the COVID crisis. The bill aimed to expand food distribution access during the pandemic—but Nagel argues it stripped away guardrails and gave a blank check to unvetted third-party operators.

“Her legislation greased the skids for this disaster,” Nagel said. “Now we know who took advantage—and it wasn’t struggling families.”

One such beneficiary? Safari Land restaurant, a social and political hub in Minneapolis’ Somali community where Omar frequently held campaign events. Its owner, now convicted, reportedly donated thousands to Omar’s campaign, according to federal filings.

“If you wanted to be in politics in that district, you had to go through Safari Land,” Nagel said. “That’s where she got her checks. That’s where she held her events. And now it’s a crime scene.”

Nagel also claims that donations tied to convicted fraudsters remain in Omar’s campaign coffers.

“She says she gave the money back. But that’s only partly true,” he alleged. “The public record shows some refunds, sure—but there’s a whole trail of cash that she hasn’t accounted for.”

He added: “If she truly believed this was theft from children, she wouldn’t be connected to so many of the people who did it.”

The fallout has reached Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, both Democrats. The Small Business Administration has opened an investigation into Somali organizations allegedly used as laundering fronts, and Congressional Republicans have launched a House Oversight probe.

Even President Trump weighed in during a rally last week, slamming Omar and blasting the Biden-era “open-door corruption.”

“Ilhan Omar helped create a pipeline of our tax dollars into criminal pockets,” Trump said. “And they call us the problem?”

Pressed for comment, Omar dismissed the idea that she had knowledge of the fraud.

“When you have these new programs designed to help people… you rely on third parties,” she said. “A lot of the COVID programs were set up so fast that guardrails didn’t get created.”

But Nagel isn’t buying it.

“She didn’t just watch this happen—she enabled it,” he said. “And now, every time she’s questioned, she screams racism. Well, Minnesotans are waking up.”

Nagel is calling for a total political overhaul in Minnesota.

“We need a new governor. A new AG. And yes, we need to vote Omar out,” he said. “This corruption is a cancer. And the only way to stop it from spreading is to cut it out completely—Democrat appointees and all.”

Nagel’s campaign has gained traction with grassroots conservatives, and the GOP sees Omar’s seat as potentially flippable in 2026 for the first time in decades.

“The people of Minnesota are good, decent Americans,” Nagel said. “They’re not in it for the money. But their so-called leaders are.”