A Minnesota state legislative committee has issued a formal document demand to U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) as part of an ongoing investigation into her potential connections to the Feeding Our Future fraud case, a large-scale scheme involving the alleged theft of federal pandemic-era child nutrition funds. State Representative Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove), who chairs the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, signed and sent the letter on April 22, notifying Omar that the committee intends to pursue answers regardless of her cooperation.
"And her Meals Act is what created the conditions that allowed Feeding Our Future to happen." — State Rep. Kristin Robbins, Chair, House Fraud Prevention & State Agency Oversight Committee
The demand comes after Representative Omar reportedly failed to respond to multiple invitations to testify before the state legislative committee. "Minnesotans and the Members of the House Fraud Prevention & State Oversight Committee were disappointed that you failed to appear before our committee to answer questions," Robbins wrote in the letter, which Fox News Digital obtained. Robbins stated that Omar's office never responded to the original invitation, nor did the congresswoman attend the scheduled hearing. This lack of response, according to Robbins, has intensified the committee's resolve to ascertain what Omar knew about the alleged fraud and when she knew it. "She didn’t even respond, ghosted us," Robbins told reporters, emphasizing the committee's frustration.
Central to the inquiry is the Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students (MEALS) Act, a piece of federal COVID-19 relief legislation introduced by Representative Omar in 2020. This bill granted waivers that allowed non-school-based distributors to participate in federal meal delivery programs and claim compensation for meals purportedly served. Critics, including Representative Robbins, argue that the MEALS Act created conditions that were exploited by the Feeding Our Future scheme. "And her Meals Act is what created the conditions that allowed Feeding Our Future to happen," Robbins asserted.
The document request from Representative Robbins' committee is comprehensive, seeking a wide array of materials. It asks Omar to provide emails, text messages, and meeting records related to her communications with the Minnesota Department of Education and various outside groups connected to the child nutrition programs that later became central to the federal prosecution. A significant point of focus for the committee is Omar's public promotion of Safari Restaurant, a Minneapolis establishment later identified by federal prosecutors as a key player in the alleged fraud. During a committee hearing, members played footage of Omar speaking in Somali on Somali TV of Minnesota, where she praised Safari Restaurant as a meal distribution site. "I’m very thankful for Safari for being part of those places where food is being given out, also for making food every day, and helping those kids’ families in need of food," Omar said, according to an English translation. Prosecutors subsequently identified Safari Restaurant as a major participant in the Feeding Our Future scheme, which authorities allege siphoned more than $250 million from a taxpayer-funded child nutrition program.
The letter further requests records of any contact between Omar and individuals who have been charged or implicated in the case, including Aimee Bock, the founder of the Feeding Our Future nonprofit, and dozens of alleged co-conspirators. Additionally, the committee is seeking "any and all" communications with political donors to Omar's campaigns who were later charged in connection with the case.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, also a Democrat, similarly declined to appear at the hearing. Robbins linked both Omar and Ellison to the wider issue, stating, "They are both key players in the child nutrition scandal and fraud — billions of our tax dollars that were stolen — and neither of them came to answer questions about their involvement."
Democrats on the panel have pushed back against the accusations. State Representative Dave Pinto (DFL-Saint Paul) defended Omar's actions during the pandemic, characterizing them as a genuine effort to combat food insecurity. "I had the sense from looking at the video that her intention seemed pretty clear, which was to make sure that kids were fed," Pinto stated, suggesting that Omar's focus was on ensuring children received necessary meals.
Federal prosecutors allege that a network of individuals and organizations exploited the nutrition program, collecting reimbursements for meals that were never actually served, leading to the massive fraud. Representative Robbins, who is currently running for governor of Minnesota, has set a May 5 deadline for Representative Omar to provide written answers and all requested materials.
This state-level scrutiny adds to national attention on Representative Omar. The Wall Street Journal reported on April 17 that Omar had amended her financial disclosure form, which had previously listed her net worth at as much as $30 million in a 2025 disclosure. The Minnesota committee's investigation continues to underscore broader calls for transparency and accountability. "Minnesotans want accountability, and they want the truth," Robbins concluded. "What was your involvement? What did you know?"
