Ilhan Omar is Panicking Over Somali Fraud Crackdown as Investigations Grow [WATCH]

Conservative activist and investigative writer Christopher F. Rufo says an expanding fraud investigation in Minnesota could soon implicate some of the state’s most powerful Democratic officials, as scrutiny intensifies over alleged welfare fraud schemes tied to the Somali community.

Rufo made the remarks during an exchange with Fox News host Jesse Watters, outlining what he described as parallel developments unfolding in Minneapolis: growing alarm within the local Somali community and mounting political pressure on state and federal officials with alleged ties to convicted fraudsters.

“I actually spent last week in Minneapolis, and there’s two parallel stories,” Rufo said.

“I mean, there is a panic within the Somali community. They’ve been found out for these massive fraud schemes, daycares, transportation, fake autism services, the whole nine yards.”

Rufo said his reporting indicates that investigators are now examining whether Minnesota’s political leadership played a role in enabling or ignoring the alleged fraud.

“But the political question is very important, and my sources in Minneapolis state government say that there are open inquiries into the potential involvement at the highest level of Minnesota politics,” he said.

“And so I think people will be taking a hard look, not only at Governor Tim Walz, but also Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and State Attorney General Keith Ellison.”

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According to Rufo, those officials have documented associations with individuals later convicted in fraud cases, raising questions about whether those relationships extended beyond routine political contact.

“We know that they have connections with convicted fraudsters,” Rufo said.

“The question is, were they merely complicit in these schemes, or were they part of a broader conspiracy? We don’t have strong evidence now, but I think people are starting to take a look.”

Watters pressed Rufo on specific allegations involving Ellison and the Walz administration, citing whistleblower claims and campaign donations.

“Well, what we do know is that Ellison promised these guys he’d make the investigation go away, and then he got money as a donation,” Watters said.

“We know that whistleblowers alerted the Walz administration and he didn’t take any action. And we know a couple of these people, like Omar got money from these convicted fraudsters as political donations. Are you saying that there could have been a conspiracy to move the welfare fraud money into their war chests?”

Rufo responded by saying such a scenario could not be ruled out and pointed to federal authorities as critical to tracing the financial activity tied to the alleged schemes.

“It certainly possible,” Rufo said.

“And I think the person, and really I’m grateful for it, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, has all the tools at his disposal to actually investigate the money trail, to figure out how the money flowed between these fake nonprofits and Somali fraudsters and Minnesota politicians.”

Rufo described an atmosphere of heightened anticipation during his time in Minneapolis, suggesting that developments in the investigation may be imminent.

“And I’ll tell you, the atmosphere in Minneapolis was electric,” he said.

“I mean, people had the sense of anticipation something big is coming.”

He emphasized the potential scale of the alleged fraud, citing estimates that place losses in the billions of dollars.

“And look, I hope they get to the bottom of it, because we’re talking about, you know, some some estimates upward of $9 billion stolen,” Rufo said.

Rufo also suggested that, at a minimum, elected officials may have failed to act on warning signs that could have prevented the alleged misuse of public funds.

“These politicians seem to, at a minimum, have turned a blind eye to the fraud, or even directed people below them to take steps so that it wasn’t uncovered,” he said.

He concluded by signaling that the investigation is far from complete and that accountability may still be forthcoming.

“This scandal is not over, and I think it could end with significant action,” Rufo said.