MINNEAPOLIS — Representative Ilhan Omar is facing a fresh wave of criticism after 2024 campaign videos began circulating online again. These clips are gaining attention just as federal investigators reveal more details about a massive fraud crisis within Minnesota social service programs.

The timing has prompted critics to question whether Omar’s focus lies with her constituents or foreign interests. Figures like Elon Musk have weighed in, suggesting her previous comments border on treason.

The videos in question come from a January 2024 event in Minneapolis. Omar spoke to a Somali-American audience in their native language, and the translated captions have sparked a massive debate. In one clip, Omar says that the U.S. government will follow the lead of Somali-Americans. She also reassures her audience that Somalia will stay safe as long as she holds a seat in Congress.

Controversy Over Omar’s Campaign Speeches

Another segment shows her promising to protect Somalia’s territorial goals from within the American political system. These remarks specifically seem to address a dispute between Ethiopia and the region of Somaliland. Opponents argue that she is using her office to help a foreign nation instead of focusing on the United States.

The backlash grew after Donald Trump mentioned the clips during a December 2025 campaign stop in Pennsylvania. He used the stage to mock Omar and claim she puts Somalia first. Elon Musk shared the video with his millions of followers on X, calling the statements treasonous. Local leaders, including Representative Tom Emmer, joined the chorus of voices demanding her resignation or an official investigation.

Omar maintains that the translations are inaccurate and slanted. Some local linguists have supported her side, claiming she was actually talking about civic participation and supporting Somali unity within the bounds of U.S. policy. Despite these explanations, the political pressure continues to mount.

Massive Fraud Scandal Hits Minnesota Taxpayers

The renewed focus on Ilhan Omar coincides with a billion-dollar fraud scandal hitting Minnesota’s social services. Federal prosecutors believe different schemes have stolen between $1 billion and $9 billion from taxpayers. The most famous case, known as “Feeding Our Future,” involved people taking $300 million by claiming they fed thousands of children who didn’t exist.

Authorities are now looking into other areas like housing help and autism therapy. By late 2025, more than 78 people had been charged, most of them from the Somali diaspora community.

Prosecutors have already won 59 convictions. Investigators are tracking stolen money used for luxury items and transfers to Kenya. Some officials are even looking for possible links to extremist groups like al-Shabaab.

Donald Trump has used these crimes to paint Minnesota as a center for money laundering. He ended Temporary Protected Status for many Somali refugees because of the fraud. Some local critics believe that officials under Governor Tim Walz failed to stop the theft because they were afraid of being called racist.

Omar represents the district with the highest Somali-American population and has spoken out against the thieves. She says the community members are victims too, since they lost out on real services. She also noted that she gave back donations from people tied to the fraud years ago.

Questions on Clan Interests and Representation

Other video segments show Omar talking about Somali clan politics. Critics view this as proof that she is lobbying based on old ethnic ties. This has raised questions about her loyalty, as she was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Her supporters point out that many ethnic groups in the U.S. lobby for their home countries, and her views match official U.S. support for Somali sovereignty.

The mix of old videos and new fraud cases has fueled a heated debate over immigration. Trump’s allies are pushing to kick Omar out of Congress, and the involvement of billionaires like Musk shows how much the political stakes have risen.

Omar defended herself on CBS, calling the attacks xenophobic and hurtful. She told reporters that her community members are proud Americans and warned that harsh political talk could lead to violence.

As more trials begin and deportations increase in the Twin Cities, the local Somali community faces a difficult future. This situation highlights the deep divisions in the country regarding how immigrants assimilate and where their loyalties lie. With more arrests expected, the pressure on Omar and her district will likely grow.

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MINNESOTA – A wide federal investigation into suspected fraud across Minnesota social services has hit a new peak. Whistleblowers inside state agencies, mayors from across Minnesota, and members of Congress are now tied into the same growing story.

Governor Tim Walz sits at the centre of it, with his administration under heavy fire for weak oversight that critics say let huge sums of public money slip away from federal child nutrition and Medicaid programmes.

The issue first made national news through the Feeding Our Future case, which alleges more than $250 million was stolen from pandemic meal funding. Since then, the focus has spread. Federal prosecutors now say fraud across state-run programmes could top $9 billion since 2018. Walz and state officials reject that number, calling it inflated and driven by politics.

The current crisis traces back to 2020, when emergency pandemic rules and looser checks reportedly opened the door to abuse. Prosecutors say the nonprofit Feeding Our Future and connected sites claimed to serve millions of meals.

Indictments allege that only a small share of those meals were actually provided, while the group and partners collected the reimbursements. More than 90 people have been charged, and dozens have been convicted. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson called it “industrial-scale fraud.”

Federal and state reviews have also widened to 14 Medicaid programmes, including autism services and housing stabilisation. Investigators say they are seeing repeat patterns, such as false claims and suspect billing.

Whistleblowers in the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) claim their warnings were brushed aside, and they also allege evidence may have been destroyed to hide what was happening.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) opened a formal inquiry earlier this month. He says the Walz administration failed to act on early signs and hit back at staff who raised concerns. Comer said whistleblowers have stepped forward, and he plans to take sworn evidence from state workers.

Nearly 100 Minnesota Mayors Demand Answers

Local leaders have now taken a public stand. This week, 98 Minnesota mayors signed a letter pressing Walz and state lawmakers for answers and action. Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst led the effort. The letter points to “fraud, unchecked spending, and inconsistent fiscal management” in St. Paul. It warns that the damage is filtering down to towns and cities across the state.

The mayors also flagged a state surplus of $18 billion that has disappeared, with deficits now projected. They say residents are being squeezed through higher property taxes to cover unfunded mandates and missing revenue. The letter says families, pensioners, firms, and workers end up paying the price. It also points to weaker economic rankings and net out-migration.

South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis said constituents feel “scared” about benefit freezes and a lack of clear answers. He framed it as a practical issue, not a party one. The letter urges tighter spending and tougher fraud controls, warning some communities could be “taxed out of Minnesota”.

Tim Walz Faces Deepening Pressure

Governor Walz has defended his record while admitting fraud happened “on my watch”. He says he is working to stop it and prevent repeats. His administration has appointed a fraud prevention director, ordered outside audits, and paused programmes seen as high risk.

Tim Walz has pushed back hard on the $9 billion estimate, saying it lacks support and is being used for political gain. He points instead to confirmed fraud in the tens of millions USA Today reports.

Critics, including Republicans and some whistleblowers, say the state moved too slowly even after warning signs appeared as far back as 2019. Federal steps have increased in recent weeks. The Small Business Administration stopped $5.5 million in funding to Minnesota. Meanwhile, proposed legislation called the “WALZ Act” would require investigations when programme costs jump sharply, according to Fox News.

Claims that some money may have reached overseas terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab have raised the stakes further. Walz says he supports investigations into any such allegations.

As more voices join in, from DHS insiders to mayors, the scandal is testing trust in public benefit systems. Walz is expected to seek a third term in 2026, and the political fallout could be significant. Local leaders say strained budgets could affect services people rely on, including public safety and road repairs, while federal scrutiny looks set to deepen.

One anonymous DHS source described the situation as “a cascade of systemic failures”, reflecting the frustration voiced by whistleblowers and critics alike. For now, many Minnesotans say they want clear answers, and they want them soon, as the investigation keeps expanding.

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WASHINGTON D.C. –  The United States has blocked five well-known Europeans from traveling to the country, saying they helped push American tech companies to take down or limit U.S. speech online. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the visa bans on Tuesday and said the move is meant to push back against what he called foreign attempts at “extraterritorial censorship.”

The action uses a policy rolled out earlier this year that allows the U.S. to deny entry to people accused of taking part in efforts to censor speech protected under U.S. law. European officials reacted fast, calling the bans a hit to sovereignty and warning that responses could follow.

The five people named include former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, tied closely to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), plus leaders from nonprofits that track online hate and disinformation.

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers listed the individuals as: Thierry Breton; Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH); Clare Melford, head of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI); and Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, who lead the German group HateAid.

Rubio called them “radical activists and weaponized NGOs,” accusing them of supporting censorship efforts abroad that, in his view, have hit American speakers and U.S. companies. He also said the alleged activity could create “serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the United States.

The bans also reflect the Trump administration’s long-running attacks on the EU’s DSA. Passed in 2022, the law requires big platforms to address illegal content, hate speech, and disinformation. U.S. officials say the way it gets enforced can pressure companies like X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and others to moderate content in ways that clash with First Amendment protections.

How the Digital Services Act Became the Flashpoint

The DSA has strained U.S. and EU ties since it was adopted. Supporters in Europe say it makes online spaces safer and forces platforms to act when content breaks the law. It also sets up reporting systems and allows regulators to fine companies that fail to comply.

Critics in Washington, including allies of President Trump and Elon Musk (who owns X), argue it can be used to silence conservative or dissenting views. Breton, while serving as the EU internal market commissioner, publicly warned X about possible enforcement actions tied to disinformation claims. Rogers called him the main driver of the DSA and accused him of using it to threaten major platforms.

The nonprofits named in the U.S. action, CCDH, GDI, and HateAid, have published reports grading platforms on hate speech and false or misleading content. Those reports have sometimes been linked to advertisers pulling spending or to public pressure for tougher moderation. U.S. officials say the groups help run coordinated efforts that cut off revenue and reduce the reach of American viewpoints.

Europe Pushes Back Hard on Rubio

Leaders across Europe condemned the move. French President Emmanuel Macron described the travel bans as intimidation meant to weaken Europe’s control over its own digital rules. He said France stands fully behind Breton and the others.

France’s foreign minister said the country “strongly condemns” the U.S. decision. Germany’s justice ministry voiced support for Ballon and von Hodenberg and called the bans “unacceptable.” The European Commission asked Washington for details and suggested it is ready to respond if the measures are not justified.

Breton replied on X with a short message aimed at Americans, saying censorship is not where they think it is. He also pointed out that the DSA passed with support from all 27 EU member states.

The organizations targeted also rejected the accusations. A GDI spokesperson called the U.S. action an authoritarian move that, in their view, amounts to government censorship. Ballon and von Hodenberg described the bans as repression designed to block European enforcement actions involving U.S. tech firms. They said they plan to keep working, even if the decision affects travel and family life.

What This Could Mean for U.S.-EU Relations

The visa bans add fuel to the Trump administration’s broader campaign against what it calls a “global censorship-industrial complex.” Rubio said more names could be added if foreign actors don’t change direction.

Analysts see the dispute as part of a larger split that also covers U.S. objections to European digital taxes and rules seen as aimed at American tech giants. The administration’s recent National Security Strategy criticized some European policies as limiting free expression.

Most European travelers can enter the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program with online approval. Even so, these restrictions can flag the individuals in U.S. homeland security systems, which can stop travel.

EU officials have hinted at payback, including reciprocal restrictions or tougher DSA enforcement. Brussels argues the DSA applies inside Europe and does not regulate speech in the United States.

Reaction in the United States and Elsewhere

In the U.S., supporters of the administration praised the move as a defense of free speech. Elon Musk wrote on X that it was “so great.” Conservative voices also framed it as resistance to foreign interference in American debate.

Opponents said the policy is hypocritical and could chill speech in its own way. Some digital rights advocates argued the administration is trying to punish critics while claiming to protect open expression.

As the holiday week begins, the dispute highlights a widening gap between the U.S. approach to speech online and Europe’s focus on limiting harm. The State Department cited authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows visa denials tied to foreign policy concerns. Whether the bans slow European regulators or spark a tit-for-tat response remains unclear, but the strain on key alliances is now out in the open.

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