Minnesota Republicans say they are disturbed by a newly released recording of Attorney General Keith Ellison pledging support to individuals who were later charged in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case.
On Thursday, Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, was repeatedly interrupted by Rep. Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, as he called for a vote on House File 20, a Republican-backed bill to increase transparency in the attorney general’s office by making more information about business conducted by the attorney general available to the public.
Every Democrat in the Minnesota House voted no on Niska’s motion to take up the bill—effectively blocking its consideration.
“By blocking this bill the day after the audio recording came to light, House Democrats sent a clear and concerning message: They are more interested in shielding the Attorney General than rooting out corruption and fraud. This is a grave disappointment,” Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, said after the vote.
WATCH: Leader Niska is repeatedly interrupted as he calls for a vote on HF20 just hours after audio of a private conversation between Attorney General Keith Ellison and individuals later implicated, and in some cases convicted, in the Feeding Our Future scandal was made public.… pic.twitter.com/fFfmgIRLVJ
— MN House Republicans (@mnhousegop) April 10, 2025
Audio captures conversation with future defendants
The vote came just hours after the release of audio from a private 2021 conversation between Ellison and individuals later charged in the Feeding Our Future scandal. Some of those connected to the scheme would later contribute to Ellison’s campaign.
The 54-minute recording, made public Wednesday by the Center of the American Experiment, reportedly took place just weeks before the FBI raided Feeding Our Future’s offices. At least two individuals later indicted in the case participated in the conversation, according to the center’s report.
In the recording, Ellison is heard telling attendees that he is “here to help” as they discuss their battle with the Minnesota Department of Education.
At various points, he states, “This is the first I’m really hearing about it,” and, “This has not come to my attention until now.”
Those private statements in December 2021 seem to contradict Ellison’s public claims in 2022, when he said his office had been working to hold Feeding Our Future accountable since 2020.
“Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and his office have been deeply involved for two years in holding Feeding Our Future accountable,” the September 2022 statement read.
Robbins said the recording “demands additional scrutiny, as the Attorney General’s duty is to defend state agencies and provide rigorous oversight of Minnesota businesses and charities.”
Ellison’s 2022 political opponent weighs in
Jim Schultz, president of the Minnesota Private Business Council and Ellison’s Republican opponent in the 2022 election, issued a blistering statement Wednesday, accusing Ellison of a “cover-up.”
“This newly uncovered audio confirms what I said back in 2022: Keith Ellison lied to Minnesotans about the Feeding Our Future scandal — and he did it to protect himself,” Schultz said. “In public, Ellison claimed his office had been cracking down on the fraud since 2020. But behind closed doors, in a recorded meeting from December 2021, he admitted: ‘This is the first I’m really hearing about it.’”
Minnesota House Republicans respond to recording of Keith Ellison's Dec. 2021 conversation with individuals who would go on to be charged in the Feeding Our Future scheme
Rep. Harry Niska: “It’s disturbing to learn that Attorney General Ellison met with and offered verbal… pic.twitter.com/p5dMr2FWQI
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) April 10, 2025
“That’s not a slip-up. That’s a cover-up—one that helped enable the largest pandemic-era fraud in the nation,” Schultz added.
The Feeding Our Future scandal is considered the largest pandemic-era fraud in the U.S., with over $250 million in COVID funds meant for low-income children stolen by fake food sites. As of April 2025, 70 individuals have been charged in the Feeding Our Future case, with several awaiting trial.
Alpha News reached out to Ellison’s office for comment but did not receive a response.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
