Congress Demands Action on COVID Fraud

February 16, 2026

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AG Meeting With Fraudsters — Then Money Appeared
A Democratic state attorney general stands accused of accepting campaign donations from individuals linked to a massive $250 million federal fraud scheme after meeting with them in his official office, prompting explosive congressional testimony and demands for his imprisonment.

Story Snapshot

Senator Josh Hawley accused Minnesota AG Keith Ellison of taking $10,000 in donations from fraud-connected individuals after a 54-minute meeting in his office
The Feeding Our Future nonprofit scandal diverted nearly $250 million in federal COVID-19 child nutrition funds, with 78 people charged by the Justice Department
Whistleblowers report they were ignored by Ellison’s office for years until fraudsters requested investigators be “off their backs”
House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed both Ellison and Governor Tim Walz to testify under oath on March 4, 2026, about broader Minnesota welfare fraud estimated at $9 billion

Explosive Senate Confrontation Over Fraud Allegations

Senator Josh Hawley delivered blistering accusations against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison during a February 12, 2026 Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, declaring the Democrat “ought to be in jail” for alleged corruption. Hawley detailed how Ellison’s office reportedly ignored whistleblower warnings about the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme for years, only to host a 54-minute meeting with individuals connected to the fraud in his official office. During that meeting, the visitors allegedly requested that investigators be taken “off their backs” and discussed campaign contributions. Ten thousand dollars in donations followed, prompting Hawley to characterize the sequence as bribery demanding federal prosecution.

The Feeding Our Future Fraud Exposed

The Feeding Our Future scandal represents one of the largest COVID-era fraud schemes in American history. The Minnesota-based nonprofit claimed to provide meals to thousands of children during the pandemic but instead diverted nearly $250 million in federal funds intended for child nutrition programs. Federal prosecutors charged 78 individuals with money laundering and fraud, uncovering a scheme where little actual food reached vulnerable children while perpetrators enriched themselves with taxpayer dollars. The Treasury Department is now investigating whether stolen funds reached the terrorist organization Al-Shabab, adding national security dimensions to the financial crimes. This fraud exemplifies how lax oversight of pandemic relief programs enabled massive theft from programs designed to help America’s most vulnerable.

Ellison Defends Record Amid Mounting Scrutiny

Keith Ellison vehemently denied Hawley’s accusations during the contentious hearing, asserting his office has convicted 300 Medicaid fraudsters over seven years and actively assisted federal prosecutors in the Feeding Our Future case. Ellison emphasized his hatred of fraud and highlighted a January 14, 2026 announcement of charges against perpetrators of $3 million in home health billing fraud. The attorney general claimed his office provided crucial support to federal investigations rather than obstructing them. However, Ellison’s defense failed to address why whistleblowers felt ignored or explain the timing of the meeting and subsequent donations. His office has also clashed with federal immigration enforcement, blocking 287G ICE agreements and unsuccessfully suing to halt Operation Metro Surge, which has arrested 4,000 illegal aliens while investigating fraud connections.

Systemic Failures and Broader Minnesota Fraud Crisis

Minnesota faces a staggering welfare fraud crisis extending far beyond Feeding Our Future, with House Oversight Committee investigations revealing approximately $9 billion stolen from programs including food assistance, childcare, housing, and Medicaid. A January 6, 2026 report from the Minnesota Legislative Auditor exposed catastrophic failures at the Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Administration, including a $680,000 unverified grant payment followed by the grant manager switching jobs to work for the recipient organization. Chairman James Comer’s committee accused Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Ellison of failing to act on fraud warnings and retaliating against whistleblowers who tried to expose the corruption. Both Democratic officials are subpoenaed to testify under oath at a March 4, 2026 hearing, where they will face questions about why state oversight failed so completely.

The implications for taxpayers and legitimate aid recipients are devastating. Billions meant for disabled children, elderly Medicaid patients, and hungry families instead lined fraudsters’ pockets while state officials either looked away or actively interfered with federal enforcement efforts. Operation Metro Surge deployed 3,000 DHS agents to Minnesota to address the fraud-immigration nexus, over Ellison’s legal objections. The scale of theft undermines public trust in social safety nets and demonstrates how progressive policies prioritizing minimal oversight create opportunities for massive criminal enterprises. Republicans argue this represents systemic corruption enabled by Democratic governance that prioritizes political relationships over protecting taxpayer dollars and vulnerable Americans who depend on legitimate assistance programs.