Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is calling for the indictment of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison over allegations that Ellison accepted campaign contributions from individuals later charged in a massive pandemic-era fraud scheme.
During a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing Thursday, Hawley questioned Ellison about his interactions with individuals connected to the Feeding Our Future case, a sprawling fraud investigation centered in Minnesota. Prosecutors have alleged that the scheme siphoned approximately $250 million in federal child nutrition funds under the guise of feeding low-income children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hawley referenced a 2024 New York Post report alleging that Ellison accepted multiple $2,500 campaign donations from individuals of Somali descent who were later charged in the scandal. According to Hawley, some of the individuals met with Ellison in December 2021 to complain that investigators were scrutinizing their finances and asked for assistance.
“You are familiar with the $9 billion in historic fraud out of your state, including the $250 million in the Feeding Our Future program alone?” Hawley asked. Ellison responded that he was familiar with the case.
Hawley alleged that the operators of Feeding Our Future met with Ellison at the Minnesota State Capitol on Dec. 11, 2021, and requested help with ongoing investigations. He claimed the meeting lasted roughly an hour and asserted that it was recorded. Hawley further alleged that Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign donations from individuals connected to the group nine days after the meeting.
“You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion, and you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted,” Hawley said.
Ellison denied the allegations and accused Hawley of misrepresenting the facts. He has previously maintained that he did not intervene in the investigation and that campaign contributions were lawful.
Hawley pressed further, asking whether Ellison had investigated where the allegedly stolen funds went. Hawley referenced testimony from the previous day’s hearing, alleging that portions of the fraudulent funds were funneled to terrorist groups, transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking operations. Ellison rejected the accusations.
Hawley also told Ellison he should resign from his position as attorney general.
As of December, federal prosecutors have charged 85 individuals in connection with the Feeding Our Future investigation. Nearly all of the defendants are of Somali descent. Authorities have secured 60 convictions so far, with additional cases pending.
The Feeding Our Future case is one of the largest pandemic-related fraud investigations in the country, and it continues to draw national political attention as prosecutions move forward.
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There Is No Such Thing As Justice because of the power of The Love Of Money ! That’s why Josh Hawley has to work so hard. Demonocrats make their own rules and RINOs are ok with it.
Why does he half to call for his inditement, of Corse he should be indited, Creasey that has to be questioned, over 250 million dollars and he has no idea where its coming from, BS