Minnesota’s hijab stunt took center stage this week as Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan appeared on Somali television wearing a hijab while visiting a Somali mall.
Media complicity is drawing renewed scrutiny in Minnesota as federal prosecutors warn the state’s expanding fraud crisis could ultimately cost taxpayers up to $9 billion, reigniting criticism that local news outlets failed to hold powerful officials accountable for years.
Fraud tourism is no longer a rhetorical jab but a federal accusation, as prosecutors unveiled new charges alleging Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded programs lured out-of-state scammers chasing “easy money.”
The Somali fraud scandal continues to shake Minnesota politics as Gov. Tim Walz faces mounting scrutiny for pledging to bring more Somali migrants into the state while a massive welfare fraud scheme—carried out by Somalis living in Minnesota—unfolded under his administration.
A leading immigration analyst says Minnesota’s massive fraud scandal unfolded in part because the state operates as a high trust state, creating an environment where oversight lagged, and bad actors exploited taxpayer-funded programs with ease.
The Somali Fraud scandal continues to draw national attention as Rep. Ilhan Omar voiced frustration over how the “Feeding Our Future” scheme is being framed, arguing that Somalis were victimized as taxpayers who lost potential support from the program.
A sweeping federal investigation continues to expose new layers of the Somali Fraud scandal that has shaken Minnesota politics and placed Rep. Ilhan Omar’s district under intense scrutiny.
