GOP sees Minnesota Senate seat in play after Walz quits re-election amid massive fraud scandal
Already a top target for the GOP, Republicans are increasingly optimistic they can flip the Democrat-controlled open Senate seat in Minnesota, in the wake of this week’s stunning move by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to drop his re-election bid amid the state’s sweeping fraud scandal. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for months has been eyeing the seat, held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, as the GOP works to not only defend but expand their current 53-47 majority in the Senate in this year’s midterm elections. This week, they landed more political ammunition, after Walz, the Democratic Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee, ended his campaign for an unprecedented third term amid stinging criticism from Republicans and some Democrats over his handling of Minnesota’s massive welfare assistance fraud scandal. “The systematic fraud overseen by Tim Walz and Minnesota Democrats has put the state’s open Senate seat squarely in play and provides yet another opportunity for Senate Republicans to expand their majority,” argued Chris Gustafson, communications director for the Senate Leadership Fund, the top outside group backing Republicans in Senate elections. WALZ REFUSES TO QUIT AFTER DROPPING RE-ELECTION BID AMID MINNESOTA FRAUD FIRESTORM: ‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’ More than 90 people — most from Minnesota’s large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. Prosecutors say the fraud in Minnesota could total as much as $9 billion. Some of the dozens that have already pleaded guilty in the case used the money to buy luxury cars, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, according to prosecutors, with some of the funds also sent overseas and potentially into the hands of Islamic terrorists. And on Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Justice Department will send additional federal prosecutors to Minnesota amid the expanding investigation. PAM BONDI DISPATCHES FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TO MINNESOTA FOLLOWING SOMALI FRAUD ALLEGATIONS Pointing to the controversy, Walz on Tuesday reiterated that “the buck stops with me. I’m accountable for this. And because of that accountability, I’m not running for office again.” Walz’s lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, is one of the two main Democrats running for their party’s Senate nomination in Minnesota. And this week Flanagan, a leading progressive, took some political fire over the fraud scandal from Rep. Angie Craig, a moderate Democrat and the party’s other major Senate contender. KLOBUCHAR WEIGHING RUN FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AS WALZ ENDS RE-ELECTION BID AMID FRAUD SCANDAL Craig suggested she’d be a better fit as the party’s Senate nominee since she isn’t tied directly to the fraud crisis, according to reporting from the Minnesota Star Tribune. “We absolutely can’t afford to let her be the nominee and put this Senate seat at risk,” Craig argued, as she pointed to Flanagan. And taking to social media, Craig touted, “I’m the only Democrat in the race who will keep this Senate seat blue.” Meanwhile, former Republican state Sen. David Hann, who recently jumped into the Senate race, this week called on Flanagan to end her campaign. Flanagan campaign spokesperson Lexi Blyer, in a statement to Fox News Digital, emphasized that “the Lt. Governor has made clear that the amount of fraud that is acceptable is zero and anyone who steals from taxpayer dollars should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law — which is exactly what’s happening in Minnesota.” Regardless of who wins the party’s nomination, Democrats are confident they’ll hold the seat in November. Pointing to what she called “the fundamental facts of the race,” Lauren French, communications director at Senate Majority PAC, the top Senate Democrat-aligned outside group, told Fox News Digital that “Minnesota is struggling because of the economic policies of Donald Trump and Republicans, and the state will elect a Democrat who will devote their time in office to lowering prices, creating affordable housing, and ensuring all Americans have quality healthcare.” But polling conducted last month in Minnesota by the NRSC suggests that the fraud scandal may stick to the Democratic Senate candidates. And the survey, shared with Fox News Digital, indicates that 50% of likely voters are more likely to support a GOP Senate candidate pledging stronger oversight and audits. “The seriously retired Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Democrats like Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig oversaw massive fraud that has hurt Minnesotans, and their failed leadership puts Minnesota in play for Republicans in 2026,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia emphasized. And Gustafson claimed “Democrats spent years ignoring the billions stolen from children and taxpayers” and that they’ll pay a price at the ballot box in November. REP TOM EMMER: WALZ OVERSAW BILLIONS IN STOLEN TAXPAYER MONEY — NOW COMES ACCOUNTABILITY The NRSC was optimistic about their chances in Minnesota, where no Republican has won a Senate election in nearly a quarter-century, even before the scandal grabbed national headlines in recent weeks. “We’re excited about expanding our map, and Minnesota is one of the target states that we’re looking at,” NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott highlighted in a Fox News Digital interview a month ago. “We see real reasons to be optimistic. President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It’s a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful,” Scott emphasized. And that candidate may be former professional football sideline reporter turned political activist and commentator Michele Tafoya, who is inching closer to launching a Republican Senate bid. Tafoya met in December with the NRSC, which has been recruiting her to jump into the race, sources confirmed to Fox News Digital last month. Tafoya, a longtime NFL sideline reporter and announcer, gave up her career at NBC Sports in 2022 as she became more politically active, saying at the time that she wanted to pursue other opportunities. She served as co-chair of 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Kendall Qualls’ unsuccessful campaign against Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
Trump admin’s new nutrition guidelines target ultra-processed foods, ease up on red meat and saturated fats
The Trump administration is taking aim at ultra-processed foods while reversing long-held U.S. government stances on red meat and saturated fats. “The Trump administration is now updating federal nutrition standards and guidelines to ensure that Americans have the most accurate, data-driven information supported by science and hard facts, not special interests or partisan ideology,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Leavitt said that the guidelines would impact what is served in public schools, what American servicemembers eat and what food is distributed through government programs. TRUMP ADMIN MOVES TO SLASH SUGAR IN AMERICAN DIETS “Faulty dietary guidelines of the past stack the deck against healthy eating and food options for everyday American families, which has fueled the chronic disease epidemic and jacked up the health care costs of households across the country,” Leavitt added. “When these guidelines are followed, Americans will be saving themselves thousands of dollars. If we want to cut health care costs in our country, we must become a healthier country… A healthier America will lead to a more affordable America.” The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the new guidelines with an updated, inverted food pyramid. The top of the pyramid, which is now the wider part of the structure, is built on meat, fats, fruits and vegetables, while whole grains are at the narrow bottom. 5 GUT-BOOSTING FRUITS TO EAT MORE OF IN 2026 FOR BETTER DIGESTION, EXPERTS SAY HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made overhauling the U.S. food supply a crucial focus of his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, which is aimed at addressing chronic disease and childhood illnesses. The secretary has argued that the nation’s food practices have harmed Americans and led to skyrocketing healthcare costs. “The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs,” Kennedy said. “Protein and healthy fats are essential, and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.” The HHS secretary railed against refined carbohydrates, food additives and added sugar, highlighting the health risks associated with sugar-sweetened beverages. Kennedy’s main message to Americans was to “eat real food.” Kennedy framed the issue as not only one about health, but also one of national security. “If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods,” he said. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also joined the briefing. She praised Secretary Kennedy’s work and highlighted the role that farmers would play in making America healthy again. “We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” Rollins said. “This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle, and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables, and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.” The new guidance comes in stark contrast to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s report released in the final days of President Joe Biden‘s term, which garnered criticism over a lack of directives on ultra-processed foods. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Federal judge presses Lindsey Halligan on why she is using US attorney title
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Lindsey Halligan to explain why she identified herself as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in a criminal indictment, despite a prior ruling that her appointment was unlawful. According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, U.S. District Judge David Novak said in a three-page order that Halligan must file a written response within seven days justifying her use of the title and explaining why it should not be struck from the indictment. “Ms. Halligan shall further explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement,” said Novak. Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for comment but did not immediately receive a response. COMEY AND JAMES CHALLENGE TRUMP APPOINTEE’S LEGITIMACY IN FEDERAL COURT HEARING President Donald Trump appointed Halligan to serve as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after Erik Siebert resigned. A federal judge in November dismissed the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding that Halligan had been unlawfully appointed and therefore lacked the authority to bring the charges. Novak cited the Nov. 24 ruling by U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie in his order, noting that while it is under appeal, no stay has been issued, meaning it remains binding on the court. ALINA HABBA BECOMES BONDI ADVISER, LEAVING ROLE AS TOP NEW JERSEY PROSECUTOR Trump pressed Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in December to dismantle the Senate’s “blue slip” tradition, arguing that the practice has allowed Democrats to block Republican judicial and U.S. attorney nominees. “If they say no, then it is OVER for that very well qualified Republican candidate. Only a really far left Democrat can be approved. It is shocking that Republicans, under Senator Chuck G, allow this scam to continue. So unfair to Republicans, and not Constitutional,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I am hereby asking Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a fantastic guy, to get something done, ideally the termination of Blue Slips. Too many GREAT REPUBLICANS are being, SENT PACKIN’. None are getting approved!!!” Alina Habba, another Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, announced on Dec. 8 that she would step down as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey after an appeals court ruled she, too, was unlawfully serving in the role.
Vivek Ramaswamy reveals running mate in Ohio governor’s race
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy revealed Wednesday that he has selected Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate in the 2026 Ohio governor’s race. The campaign is planning a rally in Cleveland on Wednesday night to make the announcement. “I’m excited to announce Rob McColley as my running mate to be the next lieutenant governor of Ohio,” Ramaswamy said in a statement. “I’m an entrepreneur, not a politician, and selected Rob to be a governing partner who can help advance our ambitious legislative agenda.” “Rob is a proven conservative leader, and he is committed to my vision to make the American Dream a reality for every Ohioan,” Ramaswamy added. VIVEK RAMASWAMY TURNS TO CONSERVATIVE YOUTH TO SHAPE THE MOVEMENT’S NEXT PHASE, ANALYZES 2026 RACES McColley, a fellow Republican, currently represents Ohio Senate District 1, which includes 11 counties in the northwestern part of the state. “Throughout his service in the Ohio General Assembly, McColley has earned a reputation as a principled statesman, proven leader, and effective problem-solver focused on delivering real results,” Ramaswamy’s campaign said. “First elected to the Ohio House of Representatives 2014, McColley was unanimously elected to serve as President of the Ohio Senate in January 2025. His record includes slashing government red tape, cutting taxes to spur economic growth, and enacting legislation to prevent a repeat of the COVID-19 shutdowns that Democrat Amy Acton advocated for (after which she quit her role as director of the Ohio Department of Health),” the statement added. RAMASWAMY DESCRIBES MAIN LESSON LEARNED BY REPUBLICANS AFTER DEMOCRATS’ BIG WINS ON ELECTION DAY McColley holds degrees from The Ohio State University and the University of Toledo College of Law, according to his biography on the Ohio Senate’s website. “Before being elected State Representative, he served in the Community Improvement Corporation of Henry County, where he oversaw economic development efforts for the county and worked to improve local workforce development efforts between manufacturers and schools in Henry and Williams counties,” it also said. The campaign said the pair will travel across Ohio for the next 10 months ahead of November’s election. “Ohio needs a businessman, not a bureaucrat; a creator, not a quitter; a visionary, not a victim. That leader is Vivek Ramaswamy,” McColley said in a statement. “He will be one of the boldest leaders in the history of our state, and I’m honored to help execute his vision.”
Cornyn pushes ‘zero mercy’ law to deport illegal immigrants convicted of deadly drunk driving
FIRST ON FOX: Several lawmakers led by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, want to impose penalties against illegal immigrants convicted of deadly drunk driving incidents at the federal level, triggering deportation and preventing return to the United States. Cornyn’s legislation would expand federal immigration law to treat serious drunk driving offenses that cause death or serious bodily injury as “aggravated felonies.” “Zero mercy should be shown to illegal aliens who not only defy our laws by unlawfully entering the country, but also take it a step further to drive drunk, threatening American lives,” Cornyn said in a statement to Fox News Digital. CAIR’S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS TARGETED AS CORNYN MOVES TO STRIP GROUP AFTER TERROR DESIGNATIONS “By strengthening current immigration law to hold these offenders accountable, our bill sends a clear message: If you enter the country illegally and harm innocent citizens, we will find you, we will punish you, and we will make sure you never step foot on American soil again,” he continued. The measure, dubbed the Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act, would add driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) offenses under the umbrella of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a law enacted in the 1950s that acts as the keystone for immigration laws in the country. That decades-old law governs visas, green cards, and citizenship, among several other immigration enforcement matters. SHERIFF SLAMS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR RELEASING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO ALLEGEDLY HIT OHIO NURSE Cornyn’s measure would specifically add new aggravated offenses to the preexisting law that would lead to deportation, prevention of re-entry into the country and make a person ineligible for most forms of immigration relief if convicted. Those offenses, specifically geared toward non-citizens, include convictions of DUI or DWI that resulted in death or serious bodily injury. Notably, the proposed legislation would enact the new penalties regardless of whether the conviction was a misdemeanor or felony. MOM PRAISES HOUSE FOR PASSING KEY IMMIGRATION BILL, BASHES CROCKETT FOR DISMISSING DAUGHTER’S MURDER The lawmaker pointed to statistics and testimonials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, in making the case for the legislation. The DHS’ Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement last year noted that 15 people had been killed in relation to DUI and DWI incidents involving illegal immigrants over the last decade. The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted a specific incident, where an illegal immigrant with seven previous DWI convictions was able to re-enter the country after being removed three times prior. Cornyn is joined by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ted Budd, R-N.C., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., John Kennedy, R-La., Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., James Lankford, R-Okla., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., in support of the legislation. Notably, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is the lone Democratic cosponsor on the bill.
Sen Amy Klobuchar says she’s ‘seriously considering’ a gubernatorial bid
Long-serving Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., indicated that she is giving serious consideration to mounting a gubernatorial bid. “I love my job, I love my state and I’m seriously considering it,” the lawmaker told CNN. Current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mounted a re-election bid last year, but he later announced on Monday that he was dropping out of the race. His reversal comes amid the massive fraud scandal unfolding in the state linked to the Somali community. MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS SAY TIM WALZ NOT OFF THE HOOK AFTER DROPPING RE-ELECTION BID “In September, I announced that I would run for a historic third term as Minnesota’s governor. And I have every confidence that, if I gave it my all, I would succeed in that effort,” he said in a statement. “But as I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all. Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences. So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” he noted. Klobuchar, who has served in the U.S. Senate since early 2007, called Walz “a true public servant” in a post on X. JAMES COMER TO ACCUSE TIM WALZ OF BEING ‘ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL’ AT FRAUD HEARING Walz’s announcement came after independent journalist Nick Shirley’s reporting about alleged massive fraud linked to taxpayer-funded daycare facilities in the state went viral. But the governor asserted on Tuesday that he will not resign from office. “I’m not goin’ anywhere,” he asserted. “And you can make all your requests for me to resign over my dead body will that happen.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Walz ran as then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate during the 2024 presidential election.
Noem unloads on Walz over ICE raid criticism: ‘Really? You’re worried about taxpayer dollars?’
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined several critics in slamming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after he jabbed ICE for conducting comprehensive immigration enforcement in Minnesota, with some pointing out the governor’s misspellings in a missive. The back-and-forth comes as Noem’s agency focuses on Minnesota for both standard immigration enforcement as well as the deployment of HSI officers to probe the legitimacy of alleged daycares tied to the Somali community that received millions in state funds. Walz tweeted video of dozens of federal agents detaining at least one man in what the governor said was a Minnetonka, Minnesota, library complex: calling the scene “ridiculous” and misspelling at least one word. GOP LAWMAKER DEMANDS MINNESOTA FRAUD BE TREATED AS ‘ORGANIZED CRIME’ SCHEME “Nobody is fooled into thinking this bafoonery (sic) is a reasonable use of taxpayer dollars. It should not take 50 ICE agents to arrest one guy in a library,” Walz said. Noem responded incredulously that Walz would be concerned with conserving public expenditures given the rampant fraud under his watch. “Really, you’re worried about taxpayer dollars?” Noem said. FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE OPERATION’ IN MINNESOTA AMID FRAUD SCANDAL “There’s been $9 billion stolen from the taxpayers in Minnesota since you became governor. You won’t let us in Minnesota’s jails and there is rampant assault against our law enforcement thanks to vilification from politicians like you,” she added. “So, yes, there’s strength in law enforcement numbers to remove these violent criminals from the communities you refuse to protect.” Noem personally took part in some of ICE’s arrests of criminal illegal immigrants, including a man wanted for murder, according to FOX’s Minneapolis-St. Paul affiliate. MAGNITUDE ‘CANNOT BE OVERSTATED’: FEDS SAY MINNESOTA FRAUD MAY BE MORE THAN $9B Walz’s jab at Noem erupted on social media, with conservative commentator Ian Miles Cheong asking if the governor learned to spell at a Somali daycare. Several other commenters made similar critiques. “How many police will it take to arrest you?” another commenter asked. Another critic shared a meme of “Saturday Night Live” star Keenan Thompson appearing as “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey and grimacing, “You sure?” MINNESOTA FRAUD CASES, EXPLAINED: HOW HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS ALLEGEDLY SLIPPED THROUGH STATE PROGRAMS “You know what is bad use of taxpayer dollars? Daycares with no kids,” added Nick Shirley, the conservative YouTuber who visited several allegedly fraudulent sites. Walz also spoke out at a news conference about ICE’s presence in Minnesota, estimating that 2,000 federal agents were in the state and that “we don’t even know who they are.” “They’ll be wearing masks… If you want us to fix fraud, come and help us… They’re not interested in that,” he said. Minneapolis City Councilman Jason Chavez separately urged residents’ caution in the presence of DHS. “Activity is really hot this morning on Lake Street and Powderhorn. There’s also confirmed ICE vehicles using Uber stickers. Please be careful,” he said, according to the FOX affiliate. Fox News Digital reached out to Walz for further comment for purposes of this story but did not hear back by press time.
China bans military-use exports to key US ally as Taiwan tensions rise
China on Tuesday banned exports of goods that could be used for military purposes to Japan, a move that escalates tensions between Beijing and a key U.S. ally as disputes intensify over Taiwan. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement that any items that have a dual use — civilian and military — would no longer be exported to Japan. The government did not offer specifics on which items would be included in the ban. But state-affiliated media said Beijing was considering whether to include rare-earth minerals. Japanese leaders have increasingly linked Taiwan’s fate to Japan’s own security, with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warning that a Chinese move against the island could amount to a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan — a legal threshold that could permit military action under Japan’s self-defense laws. FROM MOJAVE TO BEIJING: HOW AMERICA QUIETLY CONCEDED THE RARE EARTH RACE In his New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the “reunification” of China and Taiwan “unstoppable.” His remarks came days after China concluded live-fire drills to simulate a blockade of the island. The export crackdown echoes a 2010 episode when China halted rare-earth exports to Japan for nearly two months during a territorial dispute. The rare earths dispute became an early example of China’s willingness to weaponize trade, prompting U.S. and allied defense planners to reassess how deeply military supply chains depended on Beijing. The episode accelerated efforts to diversify sourcing, though China remains a dominant player in several critical sectors. CHINA’S GLOBAL AGGRESSION CHECK: TAIWAN TENSIONS, MILITARY POSTURING AND US RESPONSE IN 2025 China controls roughly two-thirds of global rare-earth mining and the vast majority of processing capacity, a dominance that prompted the Trump administration to push to diversify supply chains and revive domestic production as a national security priority. For years, Washington had largely left rare earths to the market, even as U.S. mines closed and production migrated to China. The Trump administration broke with decades of hands-off policy by using Pentagon funding and emergency authorities to support MP Materials at California’s Mountain Pass mine, one of the first direct U.S. government interventions to restore rare earth processing capacity seen as critical to modern weapons systems.
George Conway looks dramatically different in campaign announcement video
George Conway, the ex-Republican lawyer running for Congress as a Democrat in New York, looks dramatically different in his first campaign video released Tuesday. Many users on social media observed that Conway, the ex-husband of Trump ally Kellyanne Conway, lost a significant amount of weight before announcing his campaign for New York’s 12th Congressional District. “Ozempic is your sponsor??” asked one user, who speculated without evidence that Conway’s transformation was a result of weight-loss drugs. Conway is joining a crowded field in the Democratic primary race race for outgoing Rep. Jerry Nadler’s Manhattan congressional seat. Conway is relying on his familiarity with Trump to set him apart. GEORGE CONWAY FOCUSES ON OPPOSING TRUMP AS HE JUMPS INTO CROWDED HOUSE DEM PRIMARY “We have a corrupt president, a mendacious president, a criminal president whose masked agents are disappearing people from our streets, who’s breaking international law, and he’s running our federal government like a mob protection racket,” Conway said in his announcement ad. PARKLAND SURVIVOR JUMPS INTO CROWDED NYC HOUSE RACE AS GEN Z PROGRESSIVES CHALLENGE PARTY ELDERS “I know how to fight these people. They are corrupt, amoral people,” he said. “They will stop at nothing to rig the system for themselves. I’ve been fighting Trump for years, and nothing will stop me.” Conway embarked on a dramatic split from conservative politics since the rise of Trump in 2016. He helped found the anti-Trump Lincoln Project in 2019 alongside other erstwhile Republicans. “I get how people can be upset how I once supported Trump,” Conway told The New York Times in an interview. “But I think if people really listen, my views, my philosophy, my values, have always been the same.”
Left-wing Dems steer $1M to addiction group operating above Minneapolis Somali restaurant amid fraud fallout
FIRST ON FOX: Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is working to strip more than $1 million of federal funds earmarked for a Somali-led Minnesota addiction recovery organization that shares an address with a Minneapolis Somali restaurant, Fox News Digital learned. “The scale and frequency of fraud in Minnesota is staggering, but I fear just the tip of the iceberg,” Ernst told Fox News Digital Wednesday. “Congress owes it to the American people to clean up the mess instead of letting the same politicians who created it keep pigging out at the trough. I am putting a stop to this madness, protecting taxpayers, and empowering the Department of Justice to hold every single criminal accountable.” Capitol Hill lawmakers unveiled a new spending package Monday that totals at least $174 billion and is slated to receive a vote from House lawmakers later this week. Within the package, Ernst’s office found that Omar had earmarked $1,031,000 through the Department of Justice for a group called Generation Hope MN in Minneapolis. The earmark is co-led by Minnesota Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith in the Senate. Generation Hope MN is a 501(c)(3) that was established in 2019 to create a “a better, safer, and more connected community for individuals experiencing drug addiction and substance use disorders in the greater East African community of the Twin Cities Metro area,” according to its website. COMER VOWS MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE WILL EXPAND TO OTHER STATES AMID MOUNTING SCRUTINY “We are a Somali-led organization, and our team includes individuals in recovery, mental health professionals such as licensed counselors and peer recovery support specialists, and community members,” the website states. The group’s website lists two addresses for the addiction recovery center in Minneapolis, including a location on Cedar Avenue. The same Cedar Avenue address is also listed as the location for a Somali restaurant called Sagal Restaurant and Coffee. The restaurant’s website describes the restaurant, established in 1998, as a “culinary haven” that “brings the authenticity of Somali cuisine to Minneapolis.” Google Maps, Fox Digital found, also lists a neighborhood association group as also sharing the Cedar Avenue location. The owner of Sagal Restaurant, Fartune Del, confirmed to Fox News Digital Tuesday evening that Generation Hope MN does operate out of additional office spaces above the restaurant. “We have 8 office spaces on upper level of the building. Generation Hope (is) using space to help people in need of addiction,” Del told Fox Digital in an email when approached for comment about the shared address. The other location listed on the addiction recovery group’s website shows a commercial property located on Minneapolis’ Harmon Place. Ernst is readying an amendment in the Senate to redirect the more than $1 million in funding to a Department of Justice account dedicated to fraud prevention and enforcement, Fox Digital learned. A review of documents published by Omar’s office promoting the earmark for the project listed the address for Generation Hope MN as sitting on “Cedar Ave. South” — not just “Cedar Avenue” as it’s described on Generation Hope’s website. The Cedar Avenue South address also pulls up the Sagal Restaurant on Google Maps, Fox Digital found. Yelp reviews for the café and restaurant going back at least a decade praise it as serving “delicious” “Authentic Somali meals,” holding an average of four and half stars out of five based on reviews. WALZ REFUSES TO QUIT AFTER DROPPING RE-ELECTION BID AMID MINNESOTA FRAUD FIRESTORM: ‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’ Omar’s office previously described on its website that the fiscal year 2026 funding to Generation Hope would be used to address the “opioid crisis by combining this workforce readiness programming with addiction recovery, mental health, and housing support,” and “reduce recidivism and addiction while enabling greater opportunities for sustainable employment in the city, helping capable workers grow in their skills and education.” “The funding would be used for targeted reentry support in Minneapolis including job-specific training, computer skills development, peer support services, and access to education, so that participants are equipped with the tools and resources necessary for workforce success. The initiative integrates a tailored support model with practical job training through partnering with certified apprenticeship programs to provide participants with industry-recognized certifications,” Omar’s office continued. IRS documents, specifically IRS Form 1023-EZ which is needed to apply for recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, showed the three chiefs of Generation Hope MN listed the same address for a five-bedroom home in Minnepolis as their primary residence, Ernst’s office found. Abdirahman Warsame, a local author, co-founded Generation Hope MN in 2019, he told a media outlet for Minnesota refugees called Sahan Journal in 2022, when he published a book of poetry chronicling a “recovering addict’s journey to sobriety.” Fox News Digital is looking into whether the group has received previous funds from the federal government. SOMALI UN AMBASSADOR LINKED TO QUESTIONABLE CINCINNATI HEALTH SERVICE AGENCY, RFK JR. DEPUTY SAYS Fox News Digital reached out to Warsame, Omar’s office, Klobuchar’s office, Smith’s office, Generation Hope MN for comment on the shared address and earmarked funds Tuesday evening but did not immediately receive replies. Ernst’s efforts, as well as other Republican-led efforts, to strip the roughly $1 million in favor a project focused on fraud prevention and enforcement comes as Minnesota faces a massive fraud scandal. Minnesota was allegedly home to a massive COVID-era scheme that allegedly involved money laundering operations related to fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers and Medicaid services, according to investigators. Dozens of arrests have been made since 2022, mostly from the state’s large Somali community. Local officials speculate the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion, as additional details come to light. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz dropped out of his re-election effort Monday amid the fallout of the fraud scandal, while President Donald Trump has slammed Omar, Walz and other Minnesota elected officials for the fraud. Walz, who has served as governor since 2019, took ownership of the fraud as it occurred under his watch, but argued