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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's Connections to the $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scandal

Mayor's Wife Sarah Clarke - Lobbyist for Feeding Our Future

Jacob Frey and Sarah Clarke Frey - image dailymail.co.uk
Jacob Frey and Sarah Clarke Frey - image dailymail.co.uk

In the wake of one of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases in U.S. history, questions about political connections and potential conflicts of interest continue to swirl around Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The Feeding Our Future scandal, which allegedly diverted over $250 million in federal funds intended for child nutrition programs during COVID-19, has led to dozens of indictments, guilty pleas, and convictions. While neither Frey nor his wife, Sarah Clarke, has been charged or accused of wrongdoing, their proximity to key players in the scheme has fueled ongoing debate and calls for transparency—especially as Frey eyes a third term in office.


The scandal, first exposed in 2022, involved nonprofits and individuals accused of creating shell companies, inflating meal counts, and siphoning funds for personal luxuries like luxury vehicles, real estate, and international transfers. Primarily involving Somali-American defendants, the case has resulted in over 70 federal charges, with many pleading guilty to crimes such as wire fraud and money laundering. As of early 2026, federal recoveries have clawed back millions, but the political fallout persists, intensified by a new administration in Washington emphasizing scrutiny of such frauds.


Sarah Clarke's Role and the Hylden Connection

At the heart of the renewed attention is Sarah Clarke, a seasoned attorney and lobbyist married to Mayor Frey since 2016. Clarke, who also goes by Sarah Clarke Frey or Sarah Stephens Frey, served as Director of Government Affairs at Hylden Advocacy & Law from approximately 2016 to January 2022. The firm, headed by Nancy Hylden—a prominent figure in Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) circles—provided legal representation and lobbying services to Feeding Our Future, the nonprofit central to the fraud allegations. Hylden herself appeared in court alongside Feeding Our Future's founder, Aimee Bock, during early proceedings.


Clarke's tenure at the firm overlapped with the period when Feeding Our Future was rapidly expanding under relaxed federal oversight during the pandemic. However, public records show no evidence that Clarke personally handled lobbying or legal matters for the organization. Her departure in January 2022 coincided exactly with FBI raids on Feeding Our Future's offices, Bock's home, and related sites—raids that marked a turning point in the federal investigation. Sources describe the exit as abrupt, though no official explanation has been provided, leading to speculation about whether it was prompted by emerging details of the probe.


Since leaving Hylden, Clarke has taken on the role of Corporate Counsel at Nokomis Energy, a clean energy firm focused on solar and renewable projects in Minnesota. Her career highlights include advocacy on environmental sustainability, economic development, and social justice, with prior stints at the Minnesota Department of Commerce and involvement in community organizations like the National Council of Jewish Women Minnesota and the MacPhail Center for Music. Clarke, a University of Minnesota graduate with a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, has also been active in state politics, including a brief run for Minnesota State Representative in District 64A.


Broader Ties to Mayor Frey's Administration

The connections extend beyond Clarke. At least eight individuals named in the Feeding Our Future indictments donated the maximum allowable $1,000 to Frey's 2021 mayoral reelection campaign, raising eyebrows about potential influence. Three of Frey's appointees have faced federal charges:

  • Abdi Nur Salah (also referred to as Abdi Salah): A former senior policy aide to Frey, Salah pleaded guilty to wire fraud in January 2025, just ahead of trial. He had previously worked for City Council Member Abdi Warsame and donated to Frey's campaign. Frey fired Salah in March 2022 upon learning of the investigation, claiming no prior knowledge of his activities, which included providing Frey with talking points from Bock.

  • Sharmarke Issa: Appointed by Frey to chair the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority in 2019 and reappointed in 2021, Issa was indicted on bribery and fraud charges related to the scheme.

  • Abdikadir Ainanshe Mohamud: A member of Frey's Community Safety Workgroup, Mohamud faced similar indictments.


Additionally, Frey's administration intersected with other figures, such as City Council Member Jamal Osman's wife, who operated a food site tied to the scandal. Frey has consistently denied any knowledge of the fraud, emphasizing that his wife's firm represented a broad array of clients and that her work was unrelated to the scandal. In statements, he has reiterated that neither he nor Clarke was aware of or involved in any illicit activities.


Political Implications and Public Response

The scandal's resurgence in early 2026 comes amid broader federal efforts to address pandemic fraud, with some conservative outlets amplifying claims of deeper complicity—though unsubstantiated. Social media discussions, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), have echoed these concerns, with users questioning the timing of Clarke's departure and calling for further investigation. Progressive voices, including some on Reddit, note that while connections exist, they have been largely ignored by mainstream media, serving as a cautionary tale for political oversight.


Frey, who announced his bid for a third (and final) term in January 2025, maintains focus on public safety and city priorities, recently clashing with federal immigration policies amid local tensions. As trials continue and more pleas emerge—like Salah's in 2025—the mayor's office has not issued new comments on the scandal, but sources close to Frey emphasize his commitment to ethical governance.


Critics argue the web of associations underscores systemic issues in Minnesota's nonprofit and political landscapes, while supporters view it as guilt by association without evidence. With no charges against the Freys and the investigation ongoing, the true extent of any involvement remains speculative. What is clear, however, is that the Feeding Our Future case continues to cast a long shadow over Minneapolis politics, demanding accountability from all sides.



Sources:

Sources and Links on Sarah Clarke's Connections to the Feeding Our Future Fraud

Below is a compiled list of relevant sources from a web search on the topic of Sarah Clarke (wife of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey) and her ties to the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal. I've focused on credible and directly related articles, reports, and discussions, including publication dates where available. These include news outlets, investigative pieces, and public records. Note that while connections are highlighted in these sources, no charges or allegations of wrongdoing have been made against Clarke or Frey.

  1. Unraveling the Web: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's Deep Ties to the $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scandal

  2. Wife Of Minneapolis Mayor Is Directly Tied To $9B Somali Fraud Through NGO

  3. All We Know About Mayor Frey's Connections to the $250 Million Food Aid Scandal

  4. "Worked for the same law firm as..." stories are always bullshit.

  5. Mayor Jacob Frey lobbyist connections. Frey married his second wife, Sarah Clarke, in 2016...

  6. Fact check this.....the F bombing mayor has dirty hands

  7. Minneapolis' $250M Fraud Scandal Raises Uncomfortable Questions for City Hall

  8. Mayor Jacob Frey's senior policy aide plead guilty to the FOF scam. Jacob's wife, Sarah...

  9. Wife Of Minneapolis Mayor Is Directly Tied To $9B Somali Fraud Through NGO

  10. USDA suspends MILLIONS in federal awards to Minnesota over rampant fraud: 'No more handouts to thieves'

  11. More Details Tying Elected Officials to the $250 Million Federal Food Aid Scandal – But Will They Be Protected From Investigation?

  12. Don't Get Distracted From the Fraud

  13. It's official-Frey will be mayor again.

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