Ilhan Omar’s name came up six times in $250M fraud case - after she loosened oversight of fed funded food programs

“Squad” Rep. Ilhan Omar’s name appears at least six times in recently resurfaced court documents from the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case, fueling speculation about whether the Minnesota socialist had a hand in the widespread scam in her district.

The documents were part of the 2025 federal trial of Aimee Bock, the founder of the Feeding our Future nonprofit who was convicted of wire fraud, conspiracy, and bribery for masterminding the scheme that falsely claimed to serve millions of meals to children while pocketing federal funds through bogus food sites and shell companies. Bock is in custody awaiting a sentencing hearing on May 21.

Omar came up in a Feb. 5, 2021 email chain with Bock, with the subject line “help with USDA food program,” the trial exhibits show.

The Congresswoman’s MEALS act loosened oversight of federally funded food programs during the pandemic, which critics said paved the way for the Feeding Our Future’s fake claims and inflated reimbursements.

A few days after Bock’s email to Omar, on Feb. 28, Bock exchanged messages with Abdikerm Eidleh, a Feeding Our Future employee who fled the country after he was indicted in 2022. The subject line of their emails was “Ilhan’s Office,” according to the court documents.

While the list of exhibits is public, the contents have been sealed by the court.

The exhibits also include a text message string between Bock and Omar, which was uncovered during a raid of Bock’s Minnesota house, records show.

Bock has been leaking documents from behind bars through her college-age son ahead of her sentencing to try to shift some of the blame to elected officials, Minnesota federal prosecutors have alleged.

newsnationnow.com
Rich McHugh, Jonathan Gringauz
Apr 26, 2026

Minn. lawmakers demand records after Rep. Ilhan Omar skips fraud hearing

MINNEAPOLIS (NewsNation) — Minnesota lawmakers are demanding Rep. Ilhan Omar turn over records and communications tied to the Feeding Our Future child nutrition fraud scandal after the Democratic congresswoman failed to appear before a state oversight committee examining her possible connections to the case. The House Fraud Prevention and State Oversight Committee gave Omar a May 5 deadline to produce documents and answer questions in writing. Committee chair Rep. Kristin Robbins, a Republican who represents the northwestern Twin Cities, said Omar did not respond to the committee’s invitation to testify and has so far failed to provide any documentation.

“The fact that she ghosted us — she would not even respond to multiple inquiries to a state legislature where she used to serve,” Robbins said. “I think it shows disdain for Minnesota taxpayers that she’s unwilling to even answer these questions.” Lawmakers demand her records and communications by May 5. Robbins is seeking Omar’s written and electronic communications with the convicted owners of the Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis — a venue where Omar was a regular presence and held campaign events — as well as communications with more than a dozen individuals convicted in the Feeding Our Future scandal.

NewsNation first reported on the Safari Restaurant’s alleged role in the scheme last November.

Video-—Rep. Omar snubs state panel on fraud inquiry: Minnesota Republican | NewsNation Prime

Robbins also accused Omar of authoring the legislation that created conditions fraudsters were able to exploit. ‘Doesn’t pass the smell test,’ Rep. Comer says of missing scientists
“She created the conditions that allowed all these bad actors to come in and bill for thousands of meals a day,” Robbins said. “One little tiny restaurant serving 5,000 meals a day, seven days a week — it was incomprehensible numbers.” Committee chair says Omar authored the bill that enabled the fraud The committee chair said Omar also ducked questions from reporters.

“The American people and certainly the taxpayers of Minnesota deserve her to come and answer these questions,” Robbins said. “If she had nothing to do with it, if she had no ill intent, if she had no idea — she should come and defend that.”

Play Video-—Docs show lavish spending of cash intended for kids in Minnesota fraud case | The Hill

If Omar fails to comply with a May 5 deadline, Minnesota state lawmakers have limited enforcement authority, but congressional action remains possible. The House Oversight Committee could subpoena the requested documents, including Omar’s campaign finance records. Ilhan Omar will ‘be held accountable’ if found to have committed fraud. The scrutiny extends to Washington.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., warned this week that Omar “must be held accountable to the fullest extent” if she is found to have been involved in or benefited from any fraud. His remarks followed a Wall Street Journal report that Omar’s financial disclosure listed her and her husband’s assets at between $6 million and $30 million.

Omar’s office later told the outlet the filing contained a discrepancy; an amended version put the couple’s assets between $18,004 and $95,000. “Omar is saying the multimillion-dollar discrepancy was nothing more than an accounting error,” Emmer said. “This about-face shows incompetence at best and a cover-up at worst.” A lawyer for Omar wrote in a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics that while the error was “unfortunate,” nothing illegal had occurred.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said Monday that Omar has never explained publicly how her reported net worth reached $30 million. “This isn’t going to go away,” Comer said. “We’re going to continue to try to push for answers.” The Feeding Our Future scandal involves allegations that billions of dollars in federal child nutrition funds were stolen by groups that falsely claimed to have provided meal assistance to children in need. Many of those charged in the case are of Somali descent.

Omar’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

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