A long-buried audio recording of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has resurfaced, reigniting controversy over his ties to individuals later convicted in the nation’s largest COVID-19 relief fraud case. The 54-minute tape, captured during a closed-door meeting in Ellison’s state office on December 11, 2021, appears to show the Democratic AG sympathizing with and promising assistance to a group of Somali-American business leaders—many of whom would soon be implicated in stealing $250 million from federal child nutrition programs.
The scandal, centered on the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future, has already led to dozens of convictions, including prison sentences of up to 20 years for key figures who falsely claimed to have distributed millions of meals to children during the pandemic. Instead, the funds were allegedly laundered for luxury purchases, real estate, and international travel. The recording, first released earlier this year by the Center of the American Experiment—a Minnesota-based conservative think tank—has exploded back into public view on social media and conservative outlets, with users labeling it “outright criminal fraud.”
The Meeting: Sympathy, Complaints, and Offers of Help
In the audio, Ellison engages with attendees including Khalid Omar, director of the Dar Al-Farooq mosque (a site where fraudsters claimed to distribute 18.8 million phantom meals), and Ikram Mohamed, whose brother Gandi Mohamed later became a defendant in the case. The group, frustrated by scrutiny from state agencies like the Minnesota Department of Education, accuses regulators of racism and overreach against East African vendors.
Ellison, arriving unexpectedly to find a larger group than anticipated, listens attentively. “This is the first I’m really hearing about it,” he says at one point, expressing surprise at the details of their complaints. He mocks agency oversight as “piddly, stupid stuff”—a phrase he attributes to Governor Tim Walz—and agrees that state entities may be discriminating against Somali contractors. At around the 13-minute mark, one attendee, identified as Omar, offers fundraising help for Ellison’s campaign, prompting a discussion of political support.
The AG’s responses draw sharp criticism: He pledges to “fight” on their behalf, offers to call skeptical state officials, and declares, “I’m here to help.” Critics, including the Center of the American Experiment, argue this constitutes interference, especially given Ellison’s role as the state’s top law enforcement official representing those same agencies.
Campaign Donations Follow Swiftly
Just nine days after the meeting, on December 20, 2021, Ellison’s reelection campaign accepted four contributions totaling $10,000—four times the individual maximum of $2,500 allowed under state law at the time. Donors included Gandi Mohamed, Ikram Mohamed’s brother and a named defendant who has pleaded not guilty, as well as other attendees from the meeting.
That same day, Ellison’s son, Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, received donations from Gandi Mohamed, another meeting participant, Ikram Mohamed, her husband, and Gandi’s wife—totaling thousands more for his campaign. Additional contributions flowed to both Ellisons from figures like Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, accused of laundering over $1.1 million, and Abdinasir Mahamed Abshir, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
The timing has fueled allegations of quid pro quo, though no formal charges have been filed against Ellison. One X user summed up the online outrage: “Keith Ellison caught on tape trading favors with Somali fraudsters for campaign cash—pure corruption.”
Ellison’s Defense: ‘Routine’ Meeting, No Promises Made
Ellison’s office has dismissed the recording as a “smear,” emphasizing that the AG was surprised by the group size but engaged in good faith as part of his constituent services duties. In a Star Tribune op-ed earlier this year, Ellison described the encounter as “routine,” insisting he “made no promises” and was unaware of the impending FBI raid that occurred a month later, on January 19, 2022. “I took a meeting in good faith with people I didn’t know and some turned out to have done bad things. I did nothing for them and took nothing from them,” he wrote, notably omitting mention of the subsequent donations.
A spokesman added that the fraudsters’ lobbying efforts were unsuccessful, pointing to the swift federal action and dozens of convictions since. Ellison’s public statements have evolved: In September 2022, he claimed his office had been “deeply involved for two years” in holding Feeding Our Future accountable, a timeline that contradicts his private admissions on the tape of being caught off-guard by the issues.
The Minnesota Reformer, a left-leaning outlet, has cautioned against overhyping the tape, noting Ellison brushed off fundraising talk during the meeting itself and that his sympathy did not derail investigations. However, the publication acknowledged the episode as a “warning” for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) about entanglement with politically connected fraudsters.
Broader Implications for Minnesota Politics
The Feeding Our Future saga has exposed deep ties between the fraud network and Minnesota’s political establishment, including links to U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and former Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office. Under Gov. Tim Walz and Ellison, the state lost over $600 million to COVID-related fraud, drawing federal scrutiny and calls for accountability.
Republican lawmakers have demanded investigations, with some labeling Ellison’s actions as “running interference” for the scheme. As the tape circulates widely on platforms like X—amassing millions of views in recent days—the pressure mounts on Ellison, who is up for reelection in 2026.
Neither Ellison’s office nor federal prosecutors responded to requests for comment on the latest wave of attention. The full recording is available through the Center of the American Experiment’s website. This story will be updated as developments unfold.