Ilhan Omar Blames Trump as House Probe Expands Into Her Ties to Massive Minnesota Fraud

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., denied having knowledge of the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scandal in Minnesota, issuing a statement Wednesday as critics continue pressing her for answers about her possible connections to the case, as reported by Fox News.

Omar’s statement came amid scrutiny over the Feeding Our Future scandal, which cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and involved federal nutrition programs meant to feed children.

The Minnesota congresswoman rejected claims that she knew about the scheme and pointed to the Trump administration’s role in the passage and rollout of the law tied to the program.

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“Any claim that I had knowledge of this scheme is flat-out false,” Omar said in a written statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

“The MEALS Act was signed into law by President Trump and passed with bipartisan support as part of a broader legislative package. Trump’s USDA Secretary set the regulatory framework during the rollout of the program. I have always championed feeding kids and will continue to ensure our children do not go hungry.”

Omar said that after the fraud became public, she called for answers from federal officials.

Omar went on to say that the “moment this fraud came to light,” she “immediately sent a letter to the USDA Secretary demanding answers and accountability.”

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“As I stated from the beginning, stealing millions of dollars under the guise of feeding hungry children to bankroll lavish lifestyles and extravagant expenses is reprehensible,” Omar said.

“I’m grateful that Aimee Bock and every individual involved in this abhorrent scheme are being held accountable for defrauding taxpayers and betraying vulnerable children.”

Omar’s comments follow questions from critics about her knowledge of and possible links to the scandal.

The Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee invited Omar to testify about what she knew, but the committee said she did not respond.

That led to an effort to subpoena information from her, though Democrats on the committee blocked the move.

Last week, the committee released its final report, accusing Gov. Tim Walz’s administration of creating a “culture of tolerance” that allowed fraudsters to steal billions in taxpayer dollars overall.

The report criticized Omar and her MEALS Act, which was implemented into the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

According to the report, the law “took the guardrails off” federal nutrition programs by allowing for-profit restaurants to participate and permitting “grab-and-go” flexibilities that made it difficult to verify whether children were being fed through the Feeding Our Future program.

State Rep. Kristin Robbins, the Republican chair of the committee, has said Congress should act to enforce the subpoena and seek additional answers related to Omar’s alleged association with convicted fraudsters, her public promotion of a Minneapolis restaurant later linked to the program, and records of communications and meetings involving the Minnesota Department of Education and constituents.

Robbins responded to Omar’s statement by saying Omar acted only after the scandal became public.

“She only sent a letter once the fraud was exposed,” Robbins told Fox News Digital in response to Omar’s statement.

“Prior to that, she sent letters urging the administration to keep the waivers in place — allowing the fraud to continue. Sounds like revisionist history. I don’t buy it at all.”

Earlier this month, Fox News Digital reported that a former Omar staffer sent an email to the committee pointing to Trump’s USDA during his first term and downplaying the possible negative impact of Omar’s MEALS Act legislation.

Omar is also facing a new investigation by the House Ethics Committee into her finances after a change in her financial disclosures sharply reduced her family’s reported wealth from up to $30 million to less than $100,000.

Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the White House and USDA for comment.

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