yasharali
17h
I can’t get over this image of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer shielding herself from cameras in the Oval Office this past week.Whitmer’s spokesperson said she was at the White House to meet with President Trump about Michigan matters and didn’t know she would be walking into a press event.(Photo: Eric Lee/NYT)
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer hide her face in shame in viral oval office photo
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has gone viral after a photo of her hiding her face in the Oval Office after a political stunt by President Donald Trump
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ByJack Hobbs
It was reported that the Michigan Governor was escorted by a pair of Trump aides to the Oval Office, not for her one-on-one meeting with Trump, but for an unscheduled and politically loaded appearance before the press corps(Image: nytimes.com)
17:57 ET, APR 12 2025
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has gone viral after a photo of her hiding in the Oval Office was published during an unannounced visit to the Oval Office. The photo, which was snapped by a New York Times photographer, shows the Democratic governor dressed in blue ( a color befitting her political party), hiding her face with blue folders and flanked by two staffers.
It was reported that Whitmer, who had previously been meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, stood glumly in the corner of the president's office almost as if she was praying no one from the White House Press Corps would notice her presence.
Whitmer, who is currently being seen as a frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee, was meeting with the president to discuss funding for an Air National Guard base near Detroit and aid for thousands of Michiganders who had just been hit by an ice storm.
It was reported that the Michigan Governor was escorted by a pair of Trump aides to the Oval Office, not for her one-on-one meeting with Trump, but for an unscheduled and politically loaded appearance before the press corps.
The meeting also reportedly came after Whitmore split from the party line regard Trump's infamous Liberation Day tariffs.
”We’re honoured to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, the great state of Michigan — she’s really done an excellent job,” Trump said during the spectacle, during which he signed an executive order that would “make showers great again." During the awkward meeting, Trump repeated his false claim that the 2020 election, in which Whitmer was called “that woman from Michigan” by the president.
Whitmer's office later issued a statement insisting that “her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event." Several Democrats have proclaimed that the governor had been played by Trump and his administration. “Just a f-g disaster,” a Democratic staffer seethed to NBC. “It feels like it removes some of the momentum she had as a politically savvy swing-state Dem.”
It had previously been reported that Whitmer had penned a handwritten letter to Trump the day after his inauguration, congratulating him on his victory and said she looked forward to working together and praising his support for the auto industry in his first address.
The letter also allegedly contained her cellphone number and invited Trump to call her if she could be of any help to him. Whitemer had also shocked several members of her own party when she allegedly called on Democrats to find common ground with Trump, expressing understanding of his “motivations” behind his sweeping roll-out of tariffs that sparked a global trade war.
“Tariffs need to be used like a scalpel, not a hammer,” Ms Whitmer said. “Unfortunately, it’s unclear how this is going to strategically benefit the American economy or the American consumer.” She added: “We do need to make more stuff in America — more cars and chips, more steel and ships. We do need fair trade.”
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer-hide-35046028
kek
Some Queer
@HLSIII
This really is the democratic leadership’s response to Trump 2 in a nutshell.
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10:55 PM · Apr 12, 2025
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Posted on April 12, 2025 by Bill Glahn in Keith Ellison
First coverage, then coverup
We know media bias exists. We see it everywhere. It’s entirely another matter to experience media bias, firsthand.
Case in point, the Keith Ellison/Feeding Our Future scandal. Feeding Our Future (FOF) was a small Minnesota nonprofit that went on to steal $250 million in taxpayer money meant to feed children from low-income families. The program was overseen by the state Dept. of Education (MDE).
Keith Ellison is the state’s Attorney General (MN AG). As AG, Ellison’s office represents all state agencies in litigation.
Keith Ellison’s son, Jeremiah Ellison, is a member of the Minneapolis City Council.
A timeline to illustrate the events.
April 2020–fraud begins in the free-food program.
November 2020–FOF sues MDE in state court. Ellison’s office represents MDE.
November 2, 2021–Jeremiah re-elected to MPLS city council.
December 9, 2021–Keith Ellison hosts two future FOF criminal defendants and others related to FOF for a meeting in his office. AG Ellison pledges his support for FOF in their fight against his law client.
December 20, 2021–K. and J. Ellison receive $20,000 in campaign donations from 12/9/21 meeting attendees and others related to FOF.
January 20, 2022–200 federal agents execute dozens of search warrants against FOF.
September 20, 2022–First batch of 47 indictments in FOF case filed by U.S. DOJ.
September 26, 2022–MN AG press release, “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and his office have been deeply involved for two years in holding Feeding Our Future accountable.”
November 2022–Keith Ellison re-elected as AG.
April-June 2024–First FOF courtroom trial. 5 convicted, 2 acquitted.
January 15, 2025–Exhibit list for second FOF trial filed for defendant Aimee Bock. Item 710 is an audio recording of the 12/9/21 Keith Ellison FOF meeting.
February 3-March 19, 2025–Second FOF courtroom trial, 2 convicted on all charges (Aimee Bock and Salim Said). Said is the first voice heard on the 12/9/21 recording. He donated to J. Ellison. Recording not introduced at trial.
April 9, 2025–Full recording of 12/9/2021 Keith Ellison/FOF meeting published by Center of the American Experiment. Roadmap to the tape, including timestamps, published.
April 10, 2025–Fox 9-TV airs a story about the recording within a “Republicans pounce” framing.
April 11, 2025–MN AG’s office issues statement blaming Center for the American Experiment for the controversy. Stories broadcast by KARE-11 (NBC) and WCCO-4 (CBS). St. Paul Pioneer Press publishes a lengthy article.
And that’s it, so far. Neither the state’s largest newspaper (Minnesota Star Tribune), the local ABC affiliate, nor the NPR affiliate has done anything on the story involving the state’s highest-ranking law enforcement officer.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/04/first-coverage-then-coverup.php
PB
>>22904911 Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General, caught in scheming
>All the Mpls papers and news are commie lapdogs. Alphanews is basically the only one I trust.
The Center of the American Experiment is a Minnesota-based think tank that advocates for conservative and free-market principles.[5] John Hinderaker, of the Power Line blog, is its president.[6]
Overview
The Center of the American Experiment was founded in 1990 by Mitch Pearlstein, a former Reagan appointee.[2] Annette Meeks previously served as the organization's CEO.[7] It has received grants from the Bradley Foundation and the John M. Olin Foundation.[8] Katherine Kersten is a Senior Fellow at the organization.[9]
The Center has supported school vouchers[8] and opposed affirmative action, particularly in academia.[10] The organization has been credited with playing a major role in empowering conservatives in Minnesota.[11]
Its offices were set on fire in February 2024 in a case of arson. [12]
The Feeding Our Future scandal in Minnesota involves a massive fraud scheme where the nonprofit, led by Aimee Bock, allegedly misappropriated $250 million from federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors claim the funds, meant to feed low-income children, were used for personal luxuries like real estate and cars. Over 70 people were charged, with 45 convicted, including Bock, who was found guilty on all counts in March 2025. The scandal is considered the largest fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in the U.S.
A related controversy emerged with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison after a leaked December 2021 audio revealed him meeting with Feeding Our Future figures, including later-convicted defendants, and offering support. The meeting occurred before the FBI raids in January 2022, while Ellison’s office was defending the state against the nonprofit in court. Republican lawmakers have criticized Ellison, alleging impropriety and calling for transparency, while Ellison’s office insists he was unaware of the fraud at the time and acted appropriately. The audio has fueled political debate, with some X posts accusing Ellison of misconduct, though these claims remain unproven.
>The Feeding Our Future scandal in Minnesota involves a massive fraud sche
please list the 70 people charged organized by convicted and alphabetical
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The Feeding Our Future scandal in Minnesota involved 70 individuals charged with defrauding a federal child nutrition program of $250 million. As of March 2025, 45 have been convicted (either by guilty plea or trial), and others are awaiting trial or have unknown statuses. Below is an organized list based on available information, sorted alphabetically within conviction status. Note that precise statuses for some defendants are unclear due to ongoing cases or incomplete public records, and I’ve avoided speculating where data is missing.
Convicted (45 Individuals)
Abdi, Khadra – Pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
Ahmed, Abdihakim Ali – Pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering (March 2025).Bock, Aimee – Convicted at trial (March 2025) on four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of bribery, and one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery.Farah, Abdiaziz Shafii – Convicted at trial (June 2024) on 23 of 24 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, bribery, money laundering, and false statements in a passport application.
Hassan, Qamar Ahmed – Pleaded guilty (exact charges unspecified in available data).
Hashi, Sade Osman – Pleaded guilty (exact charges unspecified in available data).
Ismail, Mohamed Jama – Convicted at trial (June 2024) on three of four counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Issa, Sharmarke – Pleaded guilty (exact charges unspecified in available data).
Nur, Abdimajid Mohamed – Convicted at trial (June 2024) on 10 of 13 counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering.
Nur, Hayat Mohamed – Convicted at trial (June 2024) on three of five counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud.Said, Salim – Convicted at trial (March 2025) on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, eight counts of bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and five counts of money laundering.
Salah, Abdi Nur – Pleaded guilty (exact charges unspecified in available data).
Shariff, Mukhtar Mohamed – Convicted at trial (June 2024) on four of six counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering; sentenced to 17 years.
14–45. Others (32 individuals) – Available data confirms 45 total convictions (38 guilty pleas and 7 trial convictions by March 2025), but specific names and charges for the remaining 32 are not fully detailed in public sources.
Not Convicted (Charged, Status Unclear or Awaiting Trial)
Abukar, Ayan Farah – Charged with fraudulently receiving $5.7 million and paying kickbacks; status unclear.
Aftin, Abdiwahab Maalim – Acquitted of all charges (wire fraud and money laundering) in June 2024.Awale, Abdulkadir – Charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, wire fraud, and federal programs bribery; status unclear.Farah, Said Shafii – Acquitted of all charges (conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering) in June 2024.Hussein, Aisha Hassan – Charged with stealing $12 million through fraudulent meal claims; status unclear.Jama, Kawsar – Charged with submitting $3.7 million in fraudulent claims; status unclear.Kadiye, Abdikadir – Charged with submitting $1.1 million in fraudulent claims; status unclear.Mohamed, Ikram Yusuf – Charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering; status unclear. 9–25. Others (17 individuals) – Charged but statuses (awaiting trial, fled, or other) not fully specified in available records. Total charged is 70, with 45 convicted and 25 unaccounted for in conviction data.
Notes
Conviction totals: 38 pleaded guilty, and 7 were convicted at trial (5 in June 2024, 2 in March 2025).
Unspecified names: Some convicted individuals’ names are not publicly detailed due to the case’s scale and ongoing trials. I’ve listed those explicitly named in reliable sources.
Acquittals: Only two (Aftin and Farah) were acquitted; they’re listed under “Not Convicted” to reflect charges filed.
Data gaps: Exact charges or statuses for some defendants are unavailable in public records, and I’ve noted where information is incomplete to avoid speculation.
Sources: Information is drawn from Justice Department releases, MPR News, Minnesota Reformer, and other outlets covering the case up to March 2025.
If you need more details on specific individuals or charges, let me know, and I can dig deeper into available records or clarify further!
list similar fraud schemes on the government, committed by somali muslims in the united states. For example, I believe there was one in maine regarding health insurance
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Below is a list of fraud schemes in the United States involving individuals from the Somali Muslim community, focusing on government programs, as requested. I’ve included the Maine health insurance fraud case you mentioned and other relevant cases based on available information. Each case is described briefly, with an emphasis on verified incidents to avoid speculation or overgeneralization. Note that while these cases involve individuals from the Somali community, fraud is not unique to any group, and cultural context is considered where relevant.
1. Maine Health Insurance Fraud (MaineCare, 2015–2018)
Description: Two Somali interpreters in Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, were convicted for their roles in a $2.4 million fraud scheme targeting MaineCare, a Medicaid program for low-income residents. They conspired with mental health counseling services to submit false claims for unprovided services from 2015 to 2018. One defendant was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution; the other received three years’ probation and was ordered to pay $500,000. The scheme exploited translation services, billing for nonexistent appointments.
Details: The fraud involved falsified claims for mental health services, with interpreters and providers colluding to inflate or fabricate service records. Cultural trust within the Somali community was noted as a factor in recruitment, but the scheme was uncovered through audits.
Source: WMTW News, July 18, 2021.
2. Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Fraud (2014–2018)
Description: Multiple daycare centers, primarily owned by Somali immigrants in Minnesota, were investigated for defrauding the Child Care Assistance Program of an estimated $100 million. At least a dozen individuals were charged, with some convicted for overbilling for children who were not present or for nonexistent services. The fraud involved enrolling low-income families and paying kickbacks to parents to sign up, then billing the state for inflated or fake childcare hours.
Details: Surveillance showed parents checking children in and out quickly to create false records. Funds were allegedly wired to Somalia, raising concerns about potential terrorist links (e.g., al-Shabaab), but a 2019 audit found no evidence substantiating these claims. The scheme exploited lax oversight in CCAP, with 13 centers closed since 2014.
Source: AP News, March 13, 2019; Fox 9, May 14, 2018.
>similar fraud schemes on the government, committed by somali muslims in the united states. For example, I believe there was one in maine regarding health insurance
3. Minnesota Medicaid Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Fraud (Ongoing Investigations, 2018–2023)
Description: Investigations by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office targeted PCA services within the Somali community, alleging millions in Medicaid fraud. Companies offering PCA services were accused of billing for unprovided care, often involving kickbacks to recipients. One defendant, Abdirashid Said, faced scrutiny for receiving $188,000 in checks, which he claimed were cultural loans, not payments for services.
Details: The fraud leveraged tight-knit community networks, with providers allegedly exploiting trust to recruit participants. Prosecutions have been complicated by cultural defenses, such as claims of undocumented loans, making it hard to distinguish legitimate from fraudulent transactions. Exact conviction numbers are unclear, but investigations continue.
Source: KARE 11, October 17, 2023.
4. Minnesota Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Fraud (2020–2021)
Description: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a firm called Global Medical Services (GMS), linked to Somali individuals including Kim Sing (aka Khemwattie Algoo), was investigated for fraudulently obtaining PPP funds by claiming medical tourism from Arab countries. GMS allegedly misappropriated funds, failing to pay contractors and employees, and was sued by multiple businesses.
Details: The scheme exploited relaxed COVID-19 relief oversight, with funds diverted for personal gain rather than business support. While not exclusively a Somali-led fraud, it involved community members and was noted in broader discussions of Minnesota fraud scandals.
Source: PGurus, March 3, 2022.
Notes
Scope Limitation:The Feeding Our Future case (Minnesota, $250 million) is not repeated here,as it was covered in your prior question. Other fraud schemes exist, but I’ve limited this list to those explicitly tied to Somali individuals and government programs, as per your request. No similar large-scale cases were found in states beyond Minnesota and Maine with clear Somali Muslim involvement.
Cultural Context: Sources, like Minnesota Reformer (July 17, 2024), note that tight-knit Somali community networks can amplify fraud when vulnerabilities in programs are shared, but this is not unique to Somalis. Most community members are not involved in fraud, and systemic program weaknesses (e.g., lax oversight) are primary drivers.
Terrorism Allegations: Claims of fraud proceeds funding groups like al-Shabaab (e.g., CCAP case) have surfaced, but investigations, including a 2019 Minnesota audit, found no conclusive evidence.
Data Gaps: Exact numbers of convictions or ongoing cases are sometimes unclear due to incomplete public records or ongoing trials. I’ve avoided speculative cases or unverified claims on platforms like X.
If you want more details on any case or broader fraud trends, let me know, and I can explore further or clarify specific aspects!
>list similar fraud schemes on the government, committed by somali muslims in the united states. For example, I believe there was one in maine regarding health insurance
not mentioned by Grok. Long article so not posting it all.
Somali-American Received Millions in U.S. Taxpayer Dollars, MaineCare Funding While Claiming to Bankroll Jubaland Militia
Edward Tomic and Steve Robinson contributed to this report
Maine Wire StaffBy Maine Wire StaffMarch 21, 2025Updated:March 21,
Somali-American Abdullahi Ali has had a prolific life since arriving in Lewiston, Maine as a refugee in 2009.
Ali has become a U.S. citizen, started a nonprofit to help fellow immigrants, started several businesses, including a multi-million dollar MaineCare-funded migrant services agency, and even — according to an interview he gave to Kenyan media — managed to raise money in the U.S. to buy weapons, munitions, and supplies for a paramilitary force he had hoped to lead as president of Jubaland, Somalia.
But his knack for running a celebrated migrant agency out of Portland didn’t translate into electoral success last November when he failed to win the convoluted and disputed presidential race in Jubaland.
In an an interview with Kenyan media, Ali had previously boasted of his efforts to raise funds for para-military forces in Somalia, forces he hoped would back his claim to power should he win the presidential election.
“When I was in the U.S., I contributed to the financial support for the Jubaland-Somali army. To help the troops buy weapons, bullets and food,” said Ali.
“I helped pay my share of the fund,” he said.
At the same time Ali was helping finance arms deals in Somalia, he was also serving as the executive director and nominal head of Gateway Community Services, LLC and Gateway Community Services, Maine.
Ali’s taxpayer funding, political connections, and boasts about funding Somali arms deals raise questions about whether U.S. taxpayer dollars were involved in paying for paramilitary activities aimed at influencing Somali elections, as well as whether Ali acted as an unregistered foreign agent while receiving millions in taxpayer dollars.
According to records obtained via the Freedom of Access Act, Gateway Community Services, LLC received $28.8 million in payments via MaineCare, Maine’s version of Medicaid, from 2019 through 2024, including $4.1 million last year, while Ali was running for office with his militia in Somalia.
In April 2020, the LLC received $693,382 in taxpayer dollars under the Paycheck Protection Program, funding that allegedly backstopped 127 full-time jobs.
Other documents show that Gateway, while it was being run by Ali and Assistant Executive Director Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D-South Portland), owed a debt to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services of nearly $800,000 due to improper payments the company received under MaineCare. According to a March 2022 letter to Ali, a sample audit of reimbursement claims Gateway filed with MaineCare found a 36 percent error rate, resulting in Gateway receiving an estimated $903,938.95 in improperly paid taxpayer dollars.
It’s unclear from the letter whether that debt was ever settled.
https://www.themainewire.com/2025/03/somali-american-received-millions-in-u-s-taxpayer-dollars-mainecare-funding-while-claiming-to-bankroll-jubaland-militia/