A Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing descended into a verbal confrontation on Thursday as Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison traded accusations over a massive pandemic-era fraud scheme.
The exchange centered on allegations that Ellison’s office provided a backchannel for individuals involved in the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, a case that saw hundreds of millions of dollars intended for hungry children diverted into private hands.
The tension peaked when Hawley cited audio recordings recently released by the Center for the American Experiment. According to the transcript, a meeting took place on December 11, 2021, between Ellison and individuals later tied to the fraud.
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Hawley alleged that during this session, the Attorney General offered to look into state investigators who were looking into the non-profit’s activities. Hawley pointed to specific quotes where Ellison allegedly asked for the names of investigators to “see what’s going on,” characterizing the interaction as an attempt to protect fraudsters from accountability.
Ellison firmly pushed back against these claims, accusing the Senator of “cherry-picking” quotes and misrepresenting the context of the conversation. He defended his record, stating that his office cooperated with the very investigations that eventually led to dozens of prosecutions.
“I didn’t help them,” Ellison stated during the heated back-and-forth, emphasizing that his team provided the critical information required for federal authorities to secure convictions.
The debate took a more personal turn when Hawley highlighted campaign finance reports. He noted that Ellison received $10,000 in donations from individuals linked to the scandal just nine days after the December meeting.
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Hawley used the timing to suggest a “quid pro quo,” telling the Attorney General he “ought to be indicted” for accepting the funds. Ellison dismissed the suggestion of a bribe, though the exchange grew increasingly hostile, with the two men arguing over who was interrupting whom. At one point, after Ellison asked not to be called “pal,” Hawley retorted that “prisoner” might be a more appropriate title.
The “Feeding Our Future” case remains one of the largest instances of pandemic relief fraud in the United States. Prosecutors have charged 78 individuals in connection with the scheme, which allegedly diverted $250 million.
As of last month, 57 of those defendants have been convicted. Hawley also raised concerns that some of the stolen funds were eventually linked to international criminal networks and trafficking, further intensifying his criticism of the state’s oversight.
Ellison also denied separate allegations that he ignored whistleblowers who tried to alert his office to the irregularities as early as 2018.
While five daycare centers involved in the scandal reportedly received nearly $5 million between 2018 and 2021, Ellison maintained that his office took the necessary steps to ensure justice was served once the scale of the corruption became clear. The hearing concluded without a resolution, leaving the two officials at a stark impasse over the timeline of the investigation.
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