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Audio of Ellison meeting with convicted fraudsters resurfaces as lawyer alleges Walz, AG share blame
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing new scrutiny over a 2021 audio recording of him meeting with members of the Somali community who would soon be convicted of defrauding millions of dollars in taxpayer money.
In the recording, now obtained by Fox News, the would-be fraudsters can be heard asking Ellison to help them secure more funding, before the conversation then turns to campaign donations.
“The only way that we can protect what we have is by inserting ourselves into the political arena. Putting our votes where it needs to be. But most importantly, putting our dollars in the right place. And supporting candidates that will fight to protect our interests,” one of the Somalian community members says in the recording.
“That’s right,” Ellison responds.
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing new scrutiny over his connection to convicted fraudsters. (Getty)
Ellison has denied any wrongdoing regarding the recording, saying he was completely unaware of the fraudsters’ crimes at the time of the meeting.
“I took a meeting in good faith with people I didn’t know and some turned out to have done bad things. I did nothing for them and took nothing from them,” Ellison wrote in an April op-ed for the Minnesota Star Tribune.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announces he will not seek re-election on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at a press conference at the state Capitol in St. Paul. (Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Ellison did receive campaign donations from some of the convicted fraudsters, according to the Center for the American Experiment, but he later returned those donations after they were convicted.
The recording was first unearthed by Minnesota attorney Kenneth Udoibok, who represents Aimee Bock, one of many convicted in the $250 million “Feeding Our Future” scam last year. Udoibok is arguing that state leaders like Ellison and Gov. Tim Walz need to be held accountable as well.
“I would like to see someone, someone in the state, I don’t care what if it is the governor, I don’t care what the attorney general, someone take responsibility,” he told Fox News in an interview.
“Mr. Ellison, your department that your agency represents have some culpability,” Udoibok continued. “As much as I like Mr. Walz, he didn’t take responsibility on behalf of his agency. The buck stops with him, and in the worst-case scenario, he ought to have fired the commissioner. He ought to fire the director of the food program, somebody.”
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Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., plans to ask witnesses about the 2021 recording at a House Oversight hearing on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with his plans.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — NTT IndyCar Series driver Christian Rasmussen is staying with ECR.
The team announced on Thursday morning that Rasmussen will remain the driver of the No. 21 car for the 2027 season and beyond as part of a multi-year agreement.
“I’m excited to extend my partnership with ECR for 2027 and beyond. I’ve enjoyed my time with the team so far and believe in the future of ECR,” Rasmussen said in a press release. “We have undergone a lot of changes over the last couple years, and it has been a privilege to witness them firsthand, and to play a part in them. I’m confident that together we will continue to take ECR to its fullest potential.”
Rasmussen is currently in his third season driving for ECR. He raced only road and street courses, along with the Indy 500, during the the 2024 season. He then became a full-time driver for the team in 2025.
Rasmussen earned his first IndyCar victory for ECR last year when he won at Milwaukee Mile.
“We are very excited to finalize this extension with Christian,” ECR co-owner and CEO Ed Carpenter said in the press release. “Maintaining continuity with our driver lineup is something we feel that is an important element for ECR to reach its full potential. We have watched Christian develop over the past two seasons and firmly believe that the future is bright for Christian and ECR.”
Rasmussen drives the No. 21 for the team, alongside Alexander Rossi. Rossi drives the No. 20 for the team full-time.
It’s been a tough season for Rasmussen, who currently sits 24th in the IndyCar standings. His best finish is 14th, which occurred at Phoenix in March. He was actually a threat to win that race, but damage on his car late in the race led to a finish outside of the top ten.
“Christian has shown incredible talent, dedication, and adaptability since joining ECR,” ECR owner and chairman Ted Gelov said in the news release. “Nothing has changed our minds in that regard. Seeing Christian and the entire ECR organization battle adversity and emerge strong has strengthened our belief in him and this team. Extending our partnership with Christian ensures that we continue building momentum with a driver who understands our team’s vision and culture. The best is yet to come for Christian and ECR.”
Rasmussen is hoping to show once again how strong he is on short ovals this weekend when the series visits World Wide Technology Raceway. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 takes place Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Former Cleveland Mayor and Congressman Dennis Kucinich has lost his appeal over the Browns move to Brook Park, closing the final lawsuit looking to prevent a relocation.
When reached for comment, Kucinich says he will appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.
“I will appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court. This is a fundamental question about a taxpayer’s rights.”
Kucinich had filed a lawsuit against the Browns and the City of Cleveland in 2025, arguing against the Browns move to Brook Park.
A judge eventually threw out that lawsuit following an agreement between the Browns and the City, saying the lawsuit was “moot” now that both sides were in agreement.
Kucinich then appealed that decision.
That appeal was denied by the Eights District Court of Appeals Wednesday after they sided with the City of Cleveland who said Kucinich could not represent the taxpayers of Ohio as he is not a licensed attorney.
The final lawsuit remaining related to the Browns move is currently blocking the $600M in state funds set to go to the team for the stadium. The Haslam’s have said if those funds are not released they will be able to find alternative means to pay for that portion of the stadium.
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