MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – Scrutiny is intensifying around U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar as investigators uncover deep ties between her inner circle and the largest pandemic fraud scheme in American history. While the Congresswoman denies any knowledge of the crimes, reports reveal that her campaign staff and close associates were key players in a massive $1 billion welfare scam centered in her own district.
The "Safari" Connection
The fraud network, which exploited the 2020 MEALS Act introduced by Omar, involved criminals stealing money meant to feed schoolchildren during the pandemic. One of the central hubs for this scheme was the Safari Restaurant.
Salim Ahmed Said, the co-owner of Safari, was found guilty in August of stealing over $12 million by claiming to serve 3.9 million "phantom" meals. Prosecutors say he blew the stolen funds on a $2 million mansion and a $9,000-a-month shopping habit at Nordstrom. Notably, this is the same restaurant where Omar held her 2018 congressional victory party, and she appeared on video at the location in 2020 praising the program while the scam was active.
Campaign Staffers Involved
The connections extend beyond venue choices. Guhaad Hashi Said, a Democratic activist who worked on Omar’s 2018 and 2020 campaigns as a voter mobilization "enforcer," pleaded guilty in August. He admitted to running a fake food site that pocketed $3.2 million from the program.
Furthermore, when the Minnesota Department of Education flagged the nonprofit "Feeding Our Future" for serious deficiencies in 2021, a top aide to Omar, Ali Isse, rushed to their defense. In a resurfaced video, Isse blasted state agencies for asking questions, blaming the scrutiny on racism.
"The Racism Card"
Whistleblowers claim that fear of being labeled racist allowed the scheme to flourish. David Gaither, a former Minnesota legislator, told reporters, "When you raise your hand and call this into question, you get handed the racism card."
To date, nearly 80 people have been indicted in the scheme, with 60 of them residing in Omar's 5th Congressional District. Omar has not been directly implicated in the crimes by prosecutors and maintains she had no knowledge of the fraud. Her spokesperson stated that the scheme was "reprehensible" and that she has returned $7,400 in donations received from the now-convicted fraudsters.
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