Statement by Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
For Immediate Release
May 23, 2025
As a 21-year counterterrorism and foreign policy expert, U.S. Navy Intelligence officer, and whistleblower on Minnesota’s daycare fraud scandal, I have witnessed firsthand the systemic corruption that has plagued our state under the political elite. For too long, Minnesota’s leaders, particularly those in the DFL establishment—including Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar—have allowed fraud to flourish, exploiting vulnerable communities and public trust for political gain. As your next Governor, I pledge to confront, expose, and hold accountable all those responsible for this betrayal of Minnesotans.
The pattern of behavior is undeniable. From the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) fraud in the 2010s to the $250 million Feeding Our Future (FOF) scandal, Minnesota has been a breeding ground for fraud, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions. In 2018, I helped expose daycare fraud, where law enforcement reports—public and undisputed—documented $100 million in cash leaving Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport annually, much of it laundered through hawala networks to fund terrorist groups like al-Shabaab. These funds, transiting through hubs like the Netherlands, were repeatedly exposed during the war on terrorism, yet the DFL elite turned a blind eye, hindered by lax oversight and political calculations.
The recent FBI raid on the New Vision Foundation, claiming to feed 3,000 children daily without evidence, is only the latest example of this systemic failure. State audits have consistently revealed oversight lapses under Walz’s Minnesota Department of Education and Department of Human Services, yet no meaningful reforms have followed. Campaign donations from fraud defendants to DFL figures, including $7,400 to Omar and $2,700 to Ellison, raise serious questions about conflicts of interest. Ellison’s 2021 meeting with FOF-linked figures and accusations of Islamophobia to deflect scrutiny further illustrate how the elite exploit the Somali community and race-based fears to shield their inaction.
This is not just mismanagement—it’s a deliberate pattern of negligence, enabled by a complicit press that downplays scandals or frames investigations as discriminatory. As a whistleblower, I faced resistance from bureaucrats and media who dismissed terrorism funding evidence, despite law enforcement reports confirming the hawala network’s role. The 2019 Legislative Auditor’s claim of no terrorism links and minimized fraud estimates reflect political pressure to bury the truth, a truth I’ve dedicated my career to uncovering.
As Governor, confronting this corruption will be my primary mission. I will:
• Establish an independent anti-fraud agency to investigate and prevent abuse, free from political influence.
• Demand full transparency on fraud cases, including declassified records of terrorist financing through Minnesota’s networks.
• Support honest Somali businesses and communities harmed by fraudsters, ensuring accountability without stigmatization.
• Reform state oversight to close loopholes that enable fraud, holding agencies and their leaders accountable for failures.
Minnesotans deserve a government that prioritizes integrity over political expediency. I have fought terrorism and corruption my entire career, and I will bring that resolve to the Governor’s office. Together, we will expose the truth, hold the guilty accountable, and restore trust in our state. Join me in this fight for a better Minnesota.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
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