US EditionTrump's Attacks on Minnesota's Somali Community Cast a Spotlight on Fraud Cases
Seventy-eight defendants face charges for defrauding federally funded Minnesota programs, with losses from Feeding Our Future alone estimated at $300 million, prosecutors said.
- Last week, federal prosecutors in Minnesota said 78 defendants have been charged, including 72 tied to Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit linked to a state-run, federally funded child-feeding program.
- Charging documents show defendants falsely claimed to feed millions of meals and prosecutors filed charges tied to the Minnesota Housing Stability Services Program and an autism program.
- Evidence and filings show prosecutors put Feeding Our Future's losses at $300 million, Joe Thompson and Gov. Tim Walz say combined losses could exceed $1 billion, and 57 have been convicted.
- President Donald Trump last week called Minnesota Somalis `garbage` and linked the cases to immigration policy, while Republicans press Gov. Tim Walz ahead of the 2026 race.
- Minnesota's Somali population is about 84,000 in Minneapolis–St. Paul, with over 90% of 78 charged defendants of Somali descent, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says investigators found no proof funding terrorism.
16 Articles
16 Articles
House committee opens investigation into Minnesota welfare fraud
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz., Aug. 9, 2024. Photo: Gage Skidmore By Morgan Sweeney for The Center Square (The Center Square) – Congress has begun an investigation into a large-scale fraud scheme that led to hundreds of millions of dollars being stolen from Minnesota’s social welfare programs under Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. The House Committee on Ove…
The Toronto Star
Trump’s attacks on Minnesota’s Somali community cast a spotlight on fraud cases
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump has linked his administration’s immigration crackdown against Minnesota’s large Somali community to a series of fraud cases involving government programs in which many defendants have roots in the east African country.
Associated Press News
Trump's attacks on Minnesota's Somali community cast a spotlight on fraud cases
President Donald Trump has linked his administration’s immigration crackdown on Minnesota’s Somali community to fraud cases involving government programs.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
