MN GOP urges federal probe of alleged terror financing
Minnesota’s Senate and House Republican caucuses have asked U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen to open a federal probe after a City Journal/Manhattan Institute report revived claims that fraud in Minnesota’s benefits system may have funded terrorism, supplementing earlier letters from four GOP U.S. House members. The report relies on unnamed sources and a former detective alleging al‑Shabaab took a cut of hawala transfers, but it — and a 2019 Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor review — found no definitive proof that illicit funds reached terrorist groups, while noting remittances to some regions can be vulnerable.
Local Government
Legal
📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota Senate and House Republican caucuses sent letters on Monday to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen requesting a federal investigation, supplementing earlier letters from four GOP U.S. House members.
- The push for a probe follows a City Journal/Manhattan Institute report that revived claims suggesting Minnesota fraud may have funded terrorism.
- The City Journal/Manhattan Institute report bases its claims on unnamed sources and statements from former detective Glenn Kerns alleging al‑Shabaab takes a cut of hawala transfers, while acknowledging it has not demonstrated a definitive link to terrorism.
- A 2019 Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor review found that fraud occurred in remittance networks but did not substantiate that money reached terrorist groups, though it warned that overseas remittances to certain regions can be at risk.
- Republican calls for a federal investigation come amid these revived allegations and the mixed or limited evidentiary record described by both the new report and the 2019 audit.
📰 Sources (2)
Report revives claims Minnesota fraud funded terrorism. Here’s what we know.
New information:
- Adds that Minnesota Senate and House Republican caucuses sent letters on Monday to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen requesting an investigation (in addition to earlier letters from four GOP U.S. House members).
- Details the City Journal/Manhattan Institute report’s evidentiary basis: unnamed sources and former detective Glenn Kerns alleging al‑Shabaab takes a cut of hawala transfers, while acknowledging no definitive link has been shown.
- Reiterates the 2019 Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor finding: fraud existed but no substantiated proof that money reached terrorist groups, though overseas remittances in certain regions can be at risk.