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#news Fast Fact: lhan Omar introduced the bill that Somalians in Minnesota used to steal $1 billion from American taxpayers#Minnesota It's called the Modifying Essential Access to Lunch for Students Act - or MEALS act. Many are now calling for an investigation into Omar claiming she was a part of the scheme. A sweeping federal investigation has already been launched over the $1 billion in welfare fraud in Minnesota - and is now zeroing in on the 2020 federal law introduced by Rep. Omar, that allowed scammers to exploit child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MEALS Act, which Omar championed, waived important rules, regulations and safeguards for school meal distributions – rules that prosecutors now say made it possible for the massive scheme run by Somali migrants.#Somalia She removed the oversight rules, then had this response when asked about the fraud: "I think what happens is when you have these kinds of new programs that are designed to help people, you're often relying on third parties to be able to facilitate that.""And that a lot of the COVID programs that were set up so quickly, a lot of guardrails did not get created."The fraud has led to 59 convictions and charges against at least 78 people in her district.The nonprofit Feeding Our Future is at the center of one of the schemes.The NGO - which Omar promoted, billed the government for millions of meals that were never served.#ChristinaAguayoNews Prosecutors say the money was supposed to go to feed hungry kids, but instead bankrolled luxury mansions, high-end shopping sprees, and overseas transfers to the Somalia-based t*rror groups al-Shabaab.Omar, who represents Minnesota's 5th District – home to the nation's largest Somali-migrant population of more than 87,000 – is in the spotlight for connections between her inner circle and convicted fraudsters, raising questions about that oversight removal program.#minneapolis Omar links to the fraud scheme: 🔷️Omar introduced the MEALS Act in March 2020. 🔷️The bill allowed states to bypass meal program requirements, including verification of meal counts and site inspections.🔷️ It funneled at least $250 million through Feeding Our Future – the single largest chunk of the fraud, according to the DOJ.🔷️ Critics say the waivers created an open door for fraud, with fake sites operating out of empty storefronts and homes - and accuse Omar of knowing about it when she pushed the bill.🔷️Guhaad Hashi Said, a key organizer in Omar's 2018 and 2020 campaigns who mobilized Somali voters as an "enforcer," pleaded guilty in August to defrauding the program of $12 million. 🔷️Said ran a sham operation, falsely claiming to serve 5,000 meals daily to children. He pocketed $3.2 million.🔷️ Photos show Said posing with Omar at community events, and he remained active in her orbit even as red flags mounted.🔷️Omar's 2018 election night celebration was held at Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, co-owned by Salim Ahmed Said – another convicted fraudster. 🔷️Said was found guilty in March of stealing over $12 million by inflating meal claims to 3.9 million fake servings. 🔷️Prosecutors detailed how he splurged on a $2 million mansion and $9,000 monthly Nordstrom hauls, all while the restaurant raked in $16 million in federal funds. 🔷️As early as 2021, Minnesota's Department of Education flagged irregularities in Feeding Our Future, including incomplete audits and skyrocketing claims. 🔷️Yet Omar's office publicly backed the program, with staffers saying the concerns were bureaucratic overreach. 🔷️A 2024 state audit later blasted the agency for ignoring "opportunities for fraud," blaming rushed pandemic setups without proper guardrails. (Again, guardrails Omar had removed)Whistleblowers from the Minnesota DHS have accused Walz's administration of retaliation against employees who brought up the fraud, and because they didn't want to be called racist in the politically influential Somali community – they kept quiet. Federal prosecutors say the schemes were a "web" of shell companies and kickbacks, with only $75 million recovered so far. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison are also under investigation.