A clash broke out Thursday at a U.S. Senate committee hearing between U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison over fraudulent activity within the nonprofit group Feeding our Future.
Hawley accused Ellison, a Democrat, of trying to shut down an investigation into the Minnesota-based charity.
“You said, ‘let’s go fight these people,’ meaning the people who were investigating the fraud! Why’d you do it? Why’d you help them,” Hawley grilled Ellison. He responded, “Are you going to let me answer?”, to which Hawley said, “Please! We’re all ears.”
Ellison then accused Hawley of “cherry-picking quotes” detailed in documents Hawley cited that referenced the federal investigation into Feeding our Future. The nonprofit was investigated for stealing $250 million in federal funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The back-and-forth between Hawley and Ellison continued: “Why did you help them,” Hawley asked.
“I thought you were going to let me answer,” Ellison shot back.
“Why did you help,” asked Hawley. “Are you going to let me answer,” Ellison asked.
Hawley then accused Ellison of accepting $10,000 in campaign contributions from people associated with Feeding our Future, which Ellison vehemently denied.
“They went to your office. They solicited money from you. They solicited help from you,” Hawley said to Ellison. “They came to your office, it was your official office. You met with them for 54 minutes. They asked you for help. You pledged it to them. And they talked repeatedly about money. In fact, it’s all they talk about — money, money, money, money!”
Ellison interrupted Hawley several times, saying, “That’s a false statement!” “They did not come to my office, that’s also wrong!” “No, they didn’t!” “No, they didn’t.” “That’s a lie.”
Ellison said his team assisted with information that led to the prosecution and conviction of people involved in the Feeding our Future fraud case. Hawley shot back that Ellison “didn’t lift a finger” to prosecute anybody. He also accused him of ignoring whistleblowers with information about widespread fraud being conducted at Feeding our Future. The two began forcefully talking over each other again, with Hawley calling Ellison “pal” at one point — to which Ellison said, “I’m not your pal, don’t call me pal!”
To which Hawley retorted, “Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail!”
After the hearing, Hawley issued a press release calling for Ellison to be indicted. Ellison has accused Hawley of turning the hearing into a spectacle.
The entire exchange can be heard here:
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