Concerns about being accused of racism repeatedly discouraged officials from scrutinizing large-scale fraud in Minnesota’s social programs, allowing abuse to spread for years.
In the wake of the massive Feeding Our Future scandal, a disturbing pattern has become clear: allegations of racism were frequently used to shut down questions, intimidate investigators, and delay accountability. Experts told Fox News Digital that rumors of fraud in Minneapolis—particularly involving members of the rapidly growing Somali community—circulated for over a decade but were routinely dismissed by Democratic officials as racially motivated.
Policy analyst Bill Glahn explained that once accusations of racism surfaced, public and media interest collapsed. What may have begun as isolated concerns was framed as harmless or exaggerated, despite mounting evidence of systemic abuse.
Former assistant US Attorney Joe Teirab, who worked on federal prosecutions tied to Feeding Our Future, described how suspects explicitly used race as a defense strategy. In a secretly recorded meeting with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, individuals under suspicion reportedly claimed investigators were targeting them “only because of race.” Teirab called this tactic calculated and cynical, noting that in one case, a juror was allegedly offered a $120,000 bribe alongside messaging meant to portray the investigation as racist.