Hawley Calls for Minnesota AG Ellison to Resign Over Welfare Fraud Ties

Senator accuses state's top law enforcement officer of assisting individuals later charged in $250 million scheme.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Sen. Josh Hawley confronted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison during a Senate hearing, calling for his resignation and criminal charges over Ellison's alleged ties to a massive welfare fraud case. Hawley accused Ellison of meeting with individuals later indicted in the $250 million scheme and then accepting campaign donations from them. Ellison denied the accusations, but Hawley said Ellison "helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government" and "got a fat campaign contribution out of it."

Why it matters

The Feeding Our Future scandal was described as the largest pandemic-related fraud in the country, with millions meant to feed children instead stolen. Hawley's accusations raise questions about Ellison's potential involvement and whether he enabled the fraud through his actions.

The details

Hawley zeroed in on a December 2021 meeting between Ellison and individuals who would later be indicted in the fraud case. Public records show the meeting lasted 54 minutes. Days afterward, Hawley said Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign donations from people later charged in the scheme. Ellison denied the accusations, insisting he did not help the defendants and claiming his office actually assisted with information that led to prosecutions.

  • In December 2021, Ellison met for 54 minutes with individuals who would later be indicted in the fraud case.
  • Days after the meeting, Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign donations from people later charged in the scheme.

The players

Josh Hawley

A U.S. Senator from Missouri who confronted Ellison during the Senate hearing, accusing him of assisting in the welfare fraud scheme and calling for his resignation and criminal charges.

Keith Ellison

The Attorney General of Minnesota who was accused by Hawley of meeting with individuals later charged in the $250 million welfare fraud case and accepting campaign donations from them.

Merrick Garland

The former U.S. Attorney General who called the Feeding Our Future scandal the largest pandemic-related fraud in the country.

Pam Bondi

The current U.S. Attorney General who has recently intensified the Department of Justice's investigations into fraud in Minnesota, sending additional manpower to assist with ongoing inquiries across several welfare programs.

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What they’re saying

“You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government … and you got a fat campaign contribution out of it.”

— Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator (conservativejournalreview.com)

“Well, see what you can do about it.”

— Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General (conservativejournalreview.com)

What’s next

The Department of Justice's investigation into fraud in Minnesota is expanding, with additional federal manpower being sent to the U.S. attorney's office to assist with ongoing inquiries across several welfare programs.

The takeaway

The Feeding Our Future scandal highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight of government welfare programs, especially during times of crisis when funds are quickly distributed. The accusations against Ellison raise concerns about the potential involvement of state officials in enabling such large-scale fraud.