New revelations are putting Rep. Ilhan Omar under growing scrutiny over the $1 billion pandemic-era welfare scam that flourished in her Minnesota district.
While prosecutors have not directly linked her to the fraud, her proximity to key players, public support for the program, and staff ties are raising serious questions.
Omar held political events at Safari Restaurant — one of the main hubs of the scheme — and personally knew co-owner Salim Ahmed Said, who was convicted of stealing over $12 million by claiming to serve nearly 4 million nonexistent meals. Said spent the money on a luxury mansion and high-end shopping sprees.
The fraud was enabled by the 2020 MEALS Act, introduced by Omar, which dramatically loosened oversight. Under the act, Feeding Our Future — the now-defunct nonprofit at the center of the scam — funneled hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent operations with almost no verification.
