Aimee Bock, the convicted founder of the Minnesota nonprofit at the center of a massive COVID-era fraud scheme, claimed in a jailhouse interview that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) “knew” about aspects of the operation that ultimately defrauded taxpayers out of approximately $250 million.
Bock made the allegations during an interview with the New York Post while awaiting sentencing following her 2025 conviction on federal charges including conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud.
Federal prosecutors described the case as the largest COVID-era fraud scheme in Minnesota history involving misuse of federal child nutrition funds during the pandemic.
Despite her conviction, Bock has continued maintaining she did not knowingly participate in fraud and argued she previously attempted to alert state officials about irregularities within the program.
“I struggle to believe that she wouldn’t have known,” Bock told the New York Post while discussing Omar and interactions involving the congresswoman’s office.
Bock claimed Feeding Our Future staff communicated repeatedly with Omar’s congressional office regarding federal waivers tied to US Department of Agriculture child nutrition programs.
Court exhibits introduced during Bock’s trial showed Omar’s name appearing multiple times in emails and text messages connected to Feeding Our Future and affiliated meal site operators.
One Feb. 5, 2021, email chain reportedly carried the subject line “help with USDA food program,” while another communication referenced “Ilhan’s Office.”
Investigators also recovered a text message exchange between Bock and Omar during a raid on Bock’s residence, though the contents remain sealed by the court.
There has been no indication Omar has been charged with wrongdoing or formally accused by federal prosecutors of participating in the fraud scheme.
Bock additionally alleged Omar helped support continuation of federal waiver policies that reduced oversight requirements for pandemic meal distribution programs.
According to Bock, some federal waivers temporarily expired during the pandemic before later being renewed, creating what she described as operational “gaps” inside the program.
Omar sponsored the MEALS Act in March 2020, legislation allowing the USDA to issue emergency waivers relaxing inspection requirements and expanding eligibility for meal distribution providers during the pandemic, per Trending Politics.
Critics later argued the reduced oversight created vulnerabilities allowing fraudulent reimbursement claims and fake meal sites to flourish throughout Minnesota.
Supporters of the emergency policies argued the waivers were necessary to rapidly distribute food assistance to low-income families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Bock also referenced Safari Restaurant, one of the largest participants in the Feeding Our Future program.
Omar filmed a promotional video at the Minneapolis restaurant in May 2020 praising efforts to provide thousands of meals daily to families and children during the pandemic.
Safari Restaurant co-owner Salim Said was later convicted of defrauding the government out of approximately $16 million, the single largest amount connected to the case.
Federal prosecutors said dozens of individuals submitted claims for meals that were either grossly inflated or never actually served to children.
Authorities alleged money from the program was diverted into luxury purchases, businesses and personal enrichment schemes rather than food distribution.
The case has resulted in charges against more than 80 people, many connected to Minnesota’s Somali community, which forms a significant part of Omar’s congressional district.
