Senate Hearing w MN AG Reveals New Details in Massive Fraud Scheme

Summary

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The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Senate Hearing w MN AG Reveals New Details in Massive Fraud Scheme
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

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Main Theme / Purpose

This episode unpacks the dramatic Senate Homeland Security hearing where Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) questioned Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about his alleged involvement in the “Feeding Our Future” fraud scandal. The discussion centers on Ellison’s purported ties to Somali-American fraudsters behind a $9 billion taxpayer scheme, alleged campaign donations from those implicated, and glaring questions about accountability at the highest levels of Minnesota’s state government.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: The Feeding Our Future Fraud Scandal

• Massive fraud in Minnesota, known as the “Feeding Our Future” incident, led to $9 billion in taxpayer money being stolen under the pretense of feeding needy children.
• Significant allegations that money was further funneled to terrorist groups (al-Shabaab), transnational criminal enterprises, and tied to organized crime.
• So far, 85 individuals (mostly Somali-American) have been charged, and 60 convicted.

2. Senate Hearing: Josh Hawley vs. Keith Ellison

• Senator Hawley directly confronted AG Ellison about his meetings and communications with leaders of the fraudulent scheme and about campaign contributions traced to those individuals.
• Hawley accused Ellison of failing to act on early whistleblower warnings (from as early as 2018-2019) and instead providing assistance to those under investigation.

Notable Back-and-Forth Dialogue (03:38–10:45):

• Hawley: Presses Ellison to admit he was approached by suspects in the fraud, and that he pledged to help them.
• Ellison: Responds by calling Hawley’s presentation “cherry picking,” repeatedly denies helping or accepting money from those involved.

3. The Money Trail: Allegations of Corruption

• Hawley asserts that Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign donations just nine days after meeting with suspects.
• Direct allegations that those indicted talked about the power of money in their community, promising political support in exchange for protection.

4. Public Accountability & Political Fallout

• Hawley aggressively calls for Ellison’s resignation and potential indictment.
• The exchange is tense, confrontational, and packed with mutual accusations.

5. Broader National Context

• Host Ben Ferguson ties the case to Donald Trump’s federal priorities: Promises to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and crack down on any government officials who aid such crimes.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

Opening Framing

• Ben Ferguson (00:39):
  “Accountability finally coming to those that look the other way. With a massive fraud happening in Minnesota this time, Minnesota's AG Keith Ellison was forced to come before Congress and answer questions about his ties to the Somali fraudsters... Josh Hawley, the senator from Missouri, making it very clear he wasn't letting him get away with anything.”

Tense Senate Hearing Exchanges

• Josh Hawley (03:38):
  “Are you familiar with the $9 billion in historic fraud out of your state, including the $250 million in the Feeding Our Future program alone?... The people who ran the Feeding Our Futures program came to you in your official office ... asked for your help in getting investigators off their backs... You agreed to it. Amazingly, and we know you did because it's all caught on tape.”

• Keith Ellison (05:11):
  “So first of all, you're cherry picking quotes out of there.”

• Josh Hawley (07:01):
  “Why'd you take your money? Why'd you take their money?”

• Keith Ellison (07:04):
  “I didn't.”

• Josh Hawley (08:14):
  “This is the truth. This is what accountability looks like, of which you've had none. You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion. And you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted.”

• Keith Ellison (08:28):
  “Well, that's the truth.”

• Josh Hawley (09:22):
  “Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail.”

• Keith Ellison (10:42):
  “And sir, you should resign. I was thinking the same thing about you.”

Host Commentary

• Ben Ferguson (12:01):
  “So how does the Attorney general look the other way and act like it never happened? Well, it's pretty easy when the people that are committing the fraud are giving you campaign contributions. And this is exactly why the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, said multiple times in the last week that the resources of the federal government are all in to go after anyone that is involved in defrauding the American taxpayer and sending that money to terrorists.”

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Timeline of Key Segments (Timestamps)

• 00:39: Ben Ferguson introduces the main story: accountability in the Minnesota fraud scandal.
• 03:38–05:45: Senator Hawley begins grilling AG Ellison on his knowledge and actions regarding the fraud.
• 05:45–08:29: Heated exchange over Ellison’s alleged assistance and campaign donations; accusation of accepting $10,000.
• 09:03–10:33: Hawley revisits whistleblowers’ complaints as early as 2018-2019 and accuses Ellison of inaction.
• 10:42: Both Hawley and Ellison call for each other's resignation.
• 12:01: Ben Ferguson ties the story to national politics and Trump's anti-fraud priorities.

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Final Takeaways

• The episode delivers a fiery recap of a contentious Senate hearing, highlighting direct accusations, denials, and the broader question of accountability in public office.
• Ferguson frames the conversation around political partisanship and demands for governmental transparency.
• Listeners are left with an impression of deep-seated corruption, obfuscation, and the continuing political battle over election integrity and government spending scandals.

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Transcript

[Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Narrator]

It's the Save America act, and the Democrats are against it. Three very simple points. It's got voter id, photo id, but voter id, the confirmation of US Citizenship. You have to be a citizen, and then you have no mail in ballots. With the exception of disability, illness, military, or if you're traveling, you can get an exemption. And that will assure the security of our crooked elections. We have crooked elections.

[Keith Ellison]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

[Ben Ferguson]

Good Friday morning. It's so nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got a very big story for you. Accountability finally coming to those that look the other way. With a massive fraud happening in Minnesota this time, Minnesota's AG Keith Ellison was forced to come before Congress and and answer questions about his ties to the Somali fraudsters. And it went about as well as you could imagine. Josh Hawley, the senator from Missouri, making it very clear he wasn't letting him get away with anything. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Accountability. It is what Donald Trump promised all Americans. For those that have been breaking the law. Waste, fraud and abuse were a part of the doctrine. We were gonna get rid of it and figure out exactly who was involved in it. Well, then we had what happened in Minnesota, a massive explosion of an expose on the fraud that is costing taxpayers billions of dollars. We also found out much of that money was actually going to terrorist groups like Al Shabaab. And then there's those that were behind it or actually protecting the fraudsters. Josh Hawley and many in the Senate. They got a chance to talk to Minnesota's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, over his ties to many of those Somali fraudsters. Now, to be clear, the attorney general is the one that's supposed to be going after the criminals, not hanging out with them, doing deals with them, or looking the other way. And now Senator Hawley is calling for the indictment of the Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison on over accusations that he accepted campaign contributions from the Somali fraudsters for helping them evade investigation by state and federal officials. During the Senate Homeland Security hearing on Thursday, Hawley grilled Ellison about a report from the New York Post published last year that has now accused the top Minnesota official of taking campaign contributions from Somalis involved in the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal. That scandal is where some $9 billion in taxpayer money was stolen under the guise of feeding needy children. That's right. They weren't doing it at all. According to the report, Ellison accepted several $2,500 campaign donations from Somali fraudsters after they raised concerns that federal investigators were unjustly looking at their financials. I want you to listen to part one of Senator Hawley questioning and laying out the facts with receipts of exactly what Ellison was doing.

[Host]

Try another question. Are you familiar with the $9 billion in historic fraud out of your state, including the $250 million in the our Future program alone? You familiar with that? Don't turn to the pages in your book to get your potted answers. Are you familiar with it? Yes or no? Yes, I am familiar with Very familiar. Aren't you? Because the people who ran the Feeding Our Futures program came to you in your official office in the State Capitol, December 11, 2021, and asked for your help in getting investigators off their backs. They complained to you for upwards of an hour about state investigators going after them. And they begged you to help them. And you agreed to it. Amazingly, and we know you did because it's all caught on tape. Every single sentence is caught on tape. Here's what you said. Let's take a look. You said, it's not a question. You said to them, send me the names of all these folks who are investigating them. You said to them, send me their names and I'll take that list and I'll call the person over at education who's investigating them and say, what's going on? Why am I getting these complaints? Then he went on to say, I already have my team working on this. What day should we get together to discuss it again? You made pledge after pledge to them. You said, we've got to make sure this guy who's investigating them stops it. You said, you have my attention. I'm concerned about this. You said, let's go fight these people, meaning the people who were investigating the fraud. Why'd you do it? Why'd you help him?

[Keith Ellison]

Are you gonna let me answer?

[Host]

Please. We're all here.

[Keith Ellison]

So first of all, you're cherry picking quotes out of there.

[Host]

Why did you help?

[Keith Ellison]

I thought you were gonna let me answer.

[Host]

Why did you Let me answer. Why did you help?

[Keith Ellison]

You let me answer and I'll answer.

[Host]

You tell the truth and I'll let you answer.

[Keith Ellison]

I will tell the truth.

[Host]

Good. That'd be a nice change.

[Keith Ellison]

So, no, that. Now, see, Mr. Chairman, I didn't come here to be insulted. I came here violent.

[Host]

You came here for the truth. Let's have. Why didn't you help? The Qus are here. They're in black and white. And every member of this audience. And they're listening to the recording is 54 minutes long. It's all in public. You can Google it right now and listen to it.

[Keith Ellison]

And listen to.

[Host]

Why did you help them?

[Keith Ellison]

First of all, I didn't help them.

[Host]

You did.

[Keith Ellison]

No, I did not. I certainly didn't.

[Host]

You're saying you didn't do anything for them? You didn't. You didn't. Well, wait a minute. I already have my team working on this again. That's not you.

[Keith Ellison]

I have my team. My team assisted with the information that led to the prosecution and conviction of these people.

[Host]

You didn't. You didn't. Look. Yes. Finger to prosecute them. No. You did not. No, because they were federal. You had all bs you had whistleblowers.

[Keith Ellison]

You're the one talking bs.

[Host]

Hey, listen, it's my time.

[Keith Ellison]

Doesn't know what you're talking about.

[Host]

Oh, no, sir. You now have encountered the truth and you don't like it. Why'd you take their money?

[Ben Ferguson]

You notice there, Holly really honing in on following the money. He also talked about, you know, you're familiar with the 9 billion in historic fraud out of your state, including the 250 million in the Feeding Our Future program alone. That's when Holly asked Ellison to, which he responded, I'm familiar with it because the people who ran the Feeding Our Future program came to you in your office in the State Capitol, December 11, 2021, and asked for your help in getting investigators off their backs. Holly wasn't done talking about the money and connecting the trail. Take a listen.

[Host]

Why'd you take your money? Why'd you take their money?

[Keith Ellison]

I didn't.

[Host]

You took $10,000.

[Keith Ellison]

That's a false state.

[Host]

$10,000. Nine days after the meeting. False statement. You took $10,000. Here's what happened. They went to your office. They solicited money from you. They solicited help from you.

[Keith Ellison]

That's also wrong.

[Host]

They came to your office. It was your official office. You met with them for minutes. They asked you for help. You pledged it to them. And they talked repeatedly about money. In fact, it's all they talked about. Money, money, money, money. They said, we will put our dollars in the right place. We will support candidates that will fight to protect our interests. You replied, that's right. They said, if you are securing your donor base and secure in your power base, you can act the way you want. You replied, money is freedom. They said, the amount of money circulate. I'm reading the transcript. The amount of money circulating in our community today. Is powerful and we haven't realized it in a meaningful way. And you said, give me the specifics. And nine days later you took $10,000.

[Keith Ellison]

That's a lie.

[Host]

From people who were then indicted. It's in your reports. Why did you do it, sir?

[Keith Ellison]

This.

[Host]

Was it worth it?

[Keith Ellison]

You know what this is a theatrical 10,000.

[Host]

This is the truth. This is what accountability looks like, of which you've had none. You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion. And you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted.

[Keith Ellison]

Well, that's the truth.

[Ben Ferguson]

I think we've made the point.

[Host]

Let's keep the 10. Well, just for the record. Oh, I'll ask how I.

[Keith Ellison]

He's lying. And that's. And that's the truth.

[Host]

Oh, no, this is all on the record. Did you bother. Did you bother to investigate where the money that you facilitated their fraud for where it went? Do you know where it went? What it was used for? The fraudulent money? I do. Because we just heard testimony about it yesterday. Because we funds went to players in the hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorist groups, to transnational criminal organizations, to the drug trade, to. To drug trafficking, to child trafficking. And you took $10,000.

[Keith Ellison]

That's a lie.

[Host]

And helped them do it. You know, the other thing is whistleblowers came to you as early as 2019. Let's look. As early as 2019. Whistleblower. Don't talk over me. As early as 2019. It's my hearing, pal. As early as 2019.

[Keith Ellison]

Don't call me whistleblowers came.

[Host]

Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail.

[Keith Ellison]

Well, see what you can.

[Host]

In 2019, whistleblowers came to you in your office and referred to you fraud allegations from feeding our futures and you blew them off. Listen. Your own state newspaper. That's a lie. The Minnesota Star Tribune. The Partners in Nutrition brought its concerns to the Attorney general's office in 2018. And in 2019. And you did nothing. You did nothing for years. The only action you took is once all these fraudsters came to your office and asked you to get involved and offered you money.

[Keith Ellison]

Did not come to my office.

[Host]

Then you got involved. Then you took the money and then you got involved.

[Keith Ellison]

They did not come to my office. You're completely wrong about.

[Host]

You met with. I did not take anybody minutes. And you took $10,000. And they also gave your family money. They gave your family thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

[Keith Ellison]

They gave false statement.

[Host]

Let's put the.

[Keith Ellison]

You know this is completely the New York Post. Yeah, we know the New York Post.

[Host]

Minnesota, Keith Ellison AG accepted campaign donations from individuals linked to the $250 million Covid fraud scheme. And after they were in your office, donations came on December 20, you met with them on December 11, and on January 20, the FBI knocked over their headquarters. No, no, that's the sequence of events here.

[Keith Ellison]

No, it's not.

[Host]

You've been right at the center of this fraud, not the sequence of enabled it. And sir, the false. You should resign.

[Keith Ellison]

And sir, you should resign. I was thinking the same thing about you.

[Ben Ferguson]

Resign now. Of course, Ellison denied helping the fraudsters, to which Holly made it very clear, saying to Ellison to his face, you accept 10,000 from them. Nine days after the meeting, you help the fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion, and you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted. No, this is all on the record, sir, Holly continued. Did you bother to investigate whether the money that you facilitated their fraud for where it went, question mark? Do you know where it went, what it was used for, the fraudulent money? I do, because we just heard testimony about it yesterday. Hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorist groups, to transnational criminal organizations, to the drug trade, to drug trafficking, to child trafficking, and you took $10,000 and helped them do it. Holly also told Ellison that not only should he resign from office, which I'm sure Ellison will not do, but he reminded him that as of last December, 85 people have been charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, nearly all of whom are Somali descent. The investigation has led to 60 convictions thus far. So how does the Attorney general look the other way and act like it never happened? Well, it's pretty easy when the people that are committing the fraud are giving you campaign contributions. And this is exactly why the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, said multiple times in the last week that the resources of the federal government are all in to go after anyone that is involved in defrauding the American taxpayer and sending that money to terrorists.

[Keith Ellison]

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

[Host]

This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.