THE $250 MILLION FRAUD EXPLOSION: ILHAN OMAR ALLIES ACCUSED OF PROFITING OFF CHILDREN’S MEALS AMID PANDEMIC

America’s Largest Pandemic Relief Theft: Federal Aid Meant for Starving Kids Allegedly Funded Mansions and Lavish Shopping Sprees.

The massive, multi-billion dollar COVID-19 welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota has reached its most explosive phase. At the heart of the crisis, a staggering $250 million stolen from the federal child nutrition program is pointing directly toward individuals within the political circle of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

This is not merely a financial corruption case; the accusations center on a calculated scheme that allegedly stole food from the mouths of the children who needed it most during the height of the pandemic.

THE PRICE OF GREED: FROM RELIEF FUNDS TO RICHES

The $250 million was allocated starting in 2020 to provide free meals for schoolchildren. Instead of reaching vulnerable families, a huge portion of the money was allegedly pocketed by profiteers, turning a humanitarian program into a private ATM.

One prominent name convicted in the scheme is Salim Ahmed Said, co-owner of the Safari Restaurant, a venue famously used by Rep. Omar for her 2018 congressional victory party. The Justice Department confirmed that Said used the funds—meant to feed children—to bankroll an unimaginably lavish lifestyle:

Purchasing a $2 million Minneapolis mansion.

Maintaining a $9,000-per-month shopping habit at Nordstrom.

The grotesque contrast between the program’s noble intent and the alleged extravagant spending by the defendants has ignited national outrage.

THE POLITICAL INNER CIRCLE: UNBREAKABLE TIES

Rep. Ilhan Omar—who introduced the 2020 MEALS Act that made these funds available and even appeared in a promotional video for the program—is now facing intense scrutiny and tough questions regarding the rampant fraud within her district. While she has not been directly charged, the connections between the alleged fraudsters and her inner circle are undeniable:

A Former Campaign Official Pleads Guilty: Guhaad Hashi Said, a Democratic activist and former Omar campaign staffer, pleaded guilty to running a fake food site, claiming to serve 5,000 meals a day to children while allegedly pocketing millions. Said worked as an “enforcer” overseeing voter turnout in the Somali community during Omar’s 2018 and 2020 campaigns.

Funds Funneled Through Shady Nonprofits: Much of the funding was routed through the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which was eventually raided by the FBI.

The involvement of a former campaign insider, combined with the fact that Omar had frequented and celebrated at the convicted restaurant owner’s establishment, adds a layer of complexity and political drama to the scandal.

THE HEAT IS ON: OMAR’S DEFENSE UNDER FIRE

When pressed on CNN to explain how the fraud became so rampant in her state, Rep. Omar attributed the problem to the speed of implementation, suggesting that the COVID programs “were set up so quickly that a lot of the guardrails did not get created.”

However, her explanation has done little to quell the intense pressure coming from across the aisle. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Omar, blaming the Somali community for the scope of the fraud. Meanwhile, federal investigators are scrutinizing a network of Somali groups tied to the scandal, and a House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz’s role.

As of November, at least 78 defendants have been charged in what is widely considered the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme in the United States. This case has thrust Minnesota into the national spotlight, exposing a heartbreaking failure of oversight where humanitarian aid was allegedly twisted into a tool for brazen criminal enrichment.