Ilhan Omar Accused of Knowing About Massive $250 Million COVID Fraud Scandal

Aimee Bock, the founder of the now-defunct Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future, claimed in a jailhouse interview that Rep. Ilhan Omar was aware of aspects of the massive $250 million fraud scheme tied to the organization’s pandemic-era food program operations, as reported by Trending Politics News.

Bock, 45, spoke to the New York Post while awaiting sentencing after being convicted in March 2025 on federal charges that included conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud.

Prosecutors described the Feeding Our Future case as the largest COVID-era fraud scheme in Minnesota history.

During the interview, Bock alleged that Omar was connected to the organization through repeated contact with her congressional office as Feeding Our Future worked to secure waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I struggle to believe that she wouldn’t have known,” Bock told the outlet while discussing the congresswoman.

Aimee Bock (the woman below) said the government used her as a scapegoat and believes it was aware of the rampant fraud. She is awaiting sentencing.“I struggle to believe that she wouldn’t have known,” Bock said of Omar.When you sleep with dogs, don’t be surprised when you… pic.twitter.com/CI5og2R8Kb

— Jon Jerret (@Spookey2th) May 16, 2026

Bock has continued to maintain that she did not knowingly participate in fraud and claimed she previously attempted to alert state officials about irregularities tied to the organization’s operations.

According to Bock, Omar’s office helped field requests connected to USDA waivers that allowed food distribution programs to operate with fewer oversight requirements during the pandemic.

Those waivers became central to how Feeding Our Future and affiliated meal sites operated throughout Minnesota.

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Court exhibits presented during Bock’s trial reportedly showed Omar’s name appearing at least six times in emails and text messages linked to the nonprofit.

One email chain dated February 5, 2021, reportedly carried the subject line “help with USDA food program,” while another exchange between Bock and a Feeding Our Future employee was labeled “Ilhan’s Office.”

Investigators also recovered a text message exchange between Bock and Omar during a raid on Bock’s home. The contents of those messages remain sealed.

Bock further claimed that Omar played a role in maintaining continuity for the federal waivers when temporary lapses occurred.

“There had been a couple times early on that there were some gaps – a waiver would be set to expire on maybe the 15th of a month, and then the renewal didn’t kick in until the 1st,” Bock said.

In March 2020, Omar sponsored the MEALS Act, legislation that authorized the USDA to issue pandemic-related waivers for school meal programs.

The waivers removed routine site inspections and broadened eligibility to include restaurants and other non-traditional meal providers.

Federal prosecutors later alleged that some participants used the relaxed rules to submit inflated or fictitious reimbursement claims for meals that were never served.

Omar also appeared in a promotional video filmed at Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis in May 2020. In the video, the congresswoman stated that the restaurant was providing 2,300 meals each day to children and families during the pandemic.

Safari Restaurant later became a major focus of the federal investigation.

Its co-owner, Salim Said, was convicted of defrauding the government out of approximately $16 million, which prosecutors identified as the single largest amount tied to any defendant in the case. Said is currently awaiting sentencing.

The restaurant also hosted Omar’s 2018 election night event.

Bock noted during the interview that many of the meal distribution sites involved in the program were operated by members of Minnesota’s Somali community, which makes up a significant portion of Omar’s Fifth Congressional District.

“A lot of the sites were working directly with her, being that a lot of the operators were from the same Somali community,” Bock told the New York Post.

Feeding Our Future operated as a Minnesota nonprofit that partnered with the USDA to distribute federal child nutrition funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization reviewed reimbursement requests submitted by restaurants and community organizations claiming to provide meals to low-income children.

Federal prosecutors alleged that dozens of individuals participating in the program submitted claims for meals that were either heavily inflated or never provided at all.

Investigators said taxpayer funds were instead used to purchase luxury items and personal property rather than food services.

The investigation has resulted in criminal charges against more than 80 individuals. Bock pointed out during the interview that she was the only non-Somali speaker charged in the case.

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