A Republican challenger seeking to unseat Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has alleged that the congresswoman has extensive connections to individuals involved in one of the largest COVID-era fraud schemes uncovered by federal prosecutors, raising renewed questions about oversight, accountability, and political responsibility in her congressional district.
John Nagel, a Republican candidate running in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, claims that Omar has “deep ties” to people who were charged—and in many cases convicted—in a sweeping fraud case involving federal pandemic relief programs. The Justice Department has estimated that more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds were fraudulently obtained through schemes operating largely within Minnesota, with a significant portion of the activity centered in Omar’s district.
Federal prosecutors have described the fraud as one of the most extensive abuses of COVID relief funding in the country. Of the 87 individuals charged in connection with the schemes, all but eight are of Somali descent, a demographic reality that has drawn national attention to Minnesota’s Somali-American community, which Omar represents.
The case most frequently cited is the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, in which defendants were accused of exploiting federal nutrition programs intended to provide meals to children during the pandemic. Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick said in a March statement that defendants Aimee Bock and Salim Said falsely claimed to have served tens of millions of meals, fraudulently securing nearly $250 million in federal funds.
“That money did not go to feed kids,” Kirkpatrick said at the time. “Instead, it was used to fund their lavish lifestyles. Today’s verdict sends a message to the community that fraud against the government will not be tolerated.”
Nagel argues that Omar bears political responsibility for the environment in which the fraud flourished. He pointed to the 2020 MEALS Act, legislation introduced by Omar and passed with bipartisan support, which expanded access to food aid during the pandemic. According to Nagel, the program later became a vehicle for widespread abuse.
“If you look at where the fraud is, it’s primarily her district—the district that I’m running in against her,” Nagel said in an interview with Fox News. “It’s really odd to think that all this fraud just happened in one particular area, and it came from a bill that she particularly put together.”
Nagel further alleged that individuals within Omar’s political and social orbit personally benefited from the fraud. He claimed that some convicted defendants donated to Omar’s campaign and that her campaign activities overlapped with businesses later named in the federal investigation.
One such business frequently referenced is Safari Land, a Minneapolis restaurant that appeared in court filings related to the Feeding Our Future case. According to the Justice Department, Salim Said, one of the defendants, is a co-owner of the restaurant. Nagel alleged that the venue played an outsized role in local political fundraising and influence.
“If you’re going to be in politics, you need to go through the people at Safari Land,” Nagel said. “They kind of control the politics. That’s where fundraising happened, where money was spent, where donations came from.”
Fox News also reported that Guhaad Hashi Said, who was described as an “enforcer” for Omar’s campaign, is among more than 70 individuals indicted in connection with the Feeding Our Future scandal. Nagel argued that the cumulative effect of these relationships raises serious questions.
“There’s a lot of really deep ties,” he said. “At some point, you have to ask what she knew, or what her staff knew.”
Nagel also challenged Omar’s claims that her campaign returned donations linked to individuals later convicted of fraud. While Omar has said she refunded such contributions, Nagel argued that public records suggest only partial refunds were issued.
“She gave some money back,” Nagel said. “But there’s a whole lot more money there that she didn’t report. If people actually go through the records, they’ll see that her involvement with this money is questionable.”
Omar has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged or accused by prosecutors in connection with the fraud schemes. She has also emphasized that members of Minnesota’s Somali community were victims of the fraud as well as taxpayers harmed by it.
During a recent interview with CBS News’ Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan asked Omar why the fraud was allowed to grow so widespread. Omar responded by stressing that the impact extended far beyond political narratives.
“This also has an impact on Somalis, because we are also taxpayers in Minnesota,” Omar said. “We also could have benefited from the program and the money that was stolen.”
She added that many in the community are “really upset and angry about the fraud that has occurred,” rejecting the notion that Somali Minnesotans broadly benefited from the schemes.
The Justice Department has not indicated that Omar is under investigation, and prosecutors have not alleged that she participated in or had direct knowledge of the fraud. Nonetheless, the scale of the scandal has made it a focal point in Minnesota politics, particularly as the congressional race intensifies.
For Nagel, the issue represents a central pillar of his campaign, which he says is focused on restoring trust, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. For Omar, the allegations underscore the political risks of representing a district at the center of a historic fraud case—even absent evidence of personal misconduct.
As investigations continue and convictions mount, the controversy is likely to remain a defining issue in the race, testing voters’ willingness to separate criminal responsibility from political accountability in one of the most high-profile fraud cases of the pandemic era.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
