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Leaked Audio Recordings Drive Federal Investigation into Minnesota AG Keith Ellison

Updated: Jan 16


Leaked audio recordings from a 2021 meeting have become the linchpin in an escalating federal investigation into Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's potential involvement in one of the largest welfare fraud scandals in U.S. history. The tapes, which capture Ellison promising to leverage his office to assist individuals later convicted in the $250 million Feeding Our Future (FOF) scheme, have fueled congressional scrutiny, a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ), and calls for his prosecution. As of January 14, 2026, the audio, which resurfaced amid a Republican-led House Oversight Committee hearing, has intensified accusations of complicity, quid pro quo, and obstruction, prompting threats of subpoenas and broader probes into state oversight failures. This report centers on the audio's role in the investigation, its contents, and the unfolding fallout.


The Audio Recordings: Promises of Intervention and Campaign Ties

The central evidence is a 54-minute secretly recorded meeting on December 11, 2021, in Ellison's official offices, involving Ellison and East African business leaders affiliated with FOF—a nonprofit that exploited federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key attendees included Ikram Yusuf Mohamed (who pleaded not guilty to charges), Salim Said (convicted on 21 counts), and Abshir Omar (an uncharged FOF consultant). The group complained of "discrimination" and over regulation by state agencies like the Minnesota Departments of Education (MDE), Human Services (DHS), and Health, targeting their operations in food programs, medical transportation, and childcare.


Ellison responded empathetically, pledging support: "Of course, I’m here to help," "Let’s go fight these people," and "This has my attention." He boasted about his influence, stating that "just getting the inquiry from the AG is sometimes enough to make people knock it off," and committed to pressuring agencies to sustain fund flows without verifying child services. Ellison claimed the issues were new to him, but this contradicts his 2022 statements admitting two years of involvement with FOF.


The discussion shifted to politics, with attendees emphasizing "putting our dollars in the right place" to back protective candidates. Ellison affirmed, "That's right," and remarked, "Money is freedom." On December 20, 2021—just nine days later—Ellison's campaign received $10,000 from FOF-linked donors, including Gandi Mohamed. His son, Jeremiah Ellison, also received similar contributions. Ellison returned some donations post-indictment, but critics argue this suggests a quid pro quo.

News report with excerpts of secretly recorded audio of Ellison meeting with fraudsters

The full audio, entered as Exhibit 710 in the FOF federal trial, is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9lG_iNjy808 (titled "Feeding Our Future: Exhibit 710").


How the Audio Sparked and Fuels the Federal Probe

The tapes resurfaced during the January 7, 2026, House Oversight Committee hearing, "Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I," where they were cited as proof Ellison not only overlooked but facilitated fraud. State Rep. Duane Hudson testified: "We have it on tape... Attorney General Keith Ellison was focused on one thing: ensuring that the money continues to flow." Chairman James Comer (R-KY) described Ellison's actions as "assisting fraud," linking the audio to ignored warnings dating to 2009-2013.


Post-hearing, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) issued a criminal referral to the DOJ on January 8, 2026, targeting Ellison for enabling the fraud, with the audio as key evidence. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) accused Ellison of knowing about the issues but failing to act. Comer threatened subpoenas for Ellison to testify at a February 10, 2026, follow-up hearing.

The audio ties into broader fraud probes, where federal prosecutors charged 98 defendants (mostly of Somali descent), securing 64 convictions. Over 1,000 whistleblowers allege retaliation including being "ghosted" by Ellison's office. Emails and additional audio suggest officials ignored warnings years before FOF indictments. The DOJ has deployed extra prosecutors, while agencies like USDA and HHS have suspended funds amid the scandal.


Ellison's Defense Amid Counteractions

Ellison denies wrongdoing, claiming ignorance of crimes during the meeting and no resulting actions. His office defended MDE against FOF lawsuits and has prosecuted over 300 Medicaid fraud cases since 2019, recovering $80 million. On January 14, 2026, Ellison announced charges against Mohamed Abdirashid Omarxeyd for defrauding Medicaid of $3.2 million.


Ellison dismissed the hearing as "a lot of bull--- from Republicans" and called the fraud "not serious" in resurfaced comments. He has shifted focus to suing DHS over ICE's "Operation Metro Surge," labeling it a "federal invasion," and investigating an ICE agent's shooting of Renee Good, accusing federal officials of non-cooperation and victim-smearing.


Legal Analyst Prediction: Indictment Probable

The audio's incriminating promises and donation timing could support charges like public corruption (18 U.S.C. § 201) or honest services fraud (§ 1346). With the DOJ referral, subpoena threats, and Trump administration momentum, an indictment appears likely by Quarter 2 of 2026. Ellison's recent prosecutions may counter perceptions of inaction, but the tapes' resurgence and political pressure suggest accountability is imminent, potentially reshaping Minnesota's leadership amid fraud and immigration tensions.


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