Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison takes the stage on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Segar
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Leaked audio involving Attorney General Keith Ellison is resurfacing, raising new questions about what state leaders knew as billions in taxpayer funds were allegedly stolen.
The 2021 recording captures Ellison meeting with business owners later convicted in the Feeding Our Future scandal, just weeks before federal raids exposed what authorities now describe as the largest pandemic-related fraud scheme in U.S. history. The renewed attention comes after a viral investigation by independent journalist Nick Shirley, which documented inactive childcare centers receiving public money and reignited scrutiny of Minnesota’s oversight failures.
Federal investigators estimate up to $9 billion may have been siphoned from state programs since 2018. The Federal Bureau of Investigation says 86 people have been charged so far, with investigations ongoing, as critics argue the resurfaced audio undercuts claims that top officials were unaware of systemic abuse.
