Audio Resurfaces of Minnesota AG Meeting Convicted Fraudsters

A newly public recording from 2021 has placed Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison under scrutiny. The audio captures Ellison in a meeting with several men later convicted of stealing millions from a state food aid program. The meeting occurred while Ellison’s office was investigating the massive "Feeding Our Future" fraud scheme. In the recording, Ellison offers the men general legal advice and discusses community relations. One of the attendees was Abdiaziz Shafii Farah. He was later sentenced to 15 years in prison for his leading role in the fraud. Prosecutors say the scheme stole $250 million meant to feed children during the pandemic. A lawyer for another convicted individual now claims Ellison, and by association Governor Tim Walz, share blame for not stopping the fraud earlier. The lawyer argues the meeting shows the men had high-level access. Ellison’s office has stated the AG was unaware of the specific fraud at the time of the meeting. His office emphasizes it later prosecuted the case aggressively, working with federal authorities to secure convictions. The recording’s release adds a new dimension to the political fallout from one of the largest pandemic fraud cases in the United States.