Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a prominent MAGA-aligned lawmaker, announced Monday that she is entering the South Carolina gubernatorial race, setting up what is expected to be a heated Republican primary. Mace, currently serving her third term in Congress, said she is running because she’s “tired of politicians who smile for the cameras, lie to your face, and then vanish when it’s time to lead.” She added, “South Carolina doesn’t need another empty suit. It needs a governor who will fight for you and your values.”
Mace’s campaign platform focuses on fiscal restraint and education reform. She has proposed freezing the state’s general fund spending at about $11.6 billion, requiring agencies to cut budgets by
The Republican field includes Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Ralph Norman, and a former prosecutor whom Mace has accused of mishandling an abuse case involving her ex-fiancé. Mace,
A former campaign associate of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that exploited a child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal prosecutors confirmed that 49-year-old Guhaad Hashi Said, once linked to Omar’s political campaign activities, admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges stem from his role in the wide-reaching
Court documents show that between December 2020 and January 2022
, Said misused the Federal Child Nutrition Program, which provides funding to serve meals to underprivileged children. His nonprofit organization, Advance Youth Athletic Development, was at the center of the scheme.
Despite being registered in February 2021 to a Minneapolis apartment, the nonprofit submitted claims alleging it served thousands of meals daily. Beginning in March 2021, Said reported feeding 5,000 children per day
. Over the next nine months, he claimed to have served more than one million meals, though prosecutors say only a fraction were ever provided.
Investigators found that Said fabricated records, including rosters, invoices, and attendance sheets, to justify reimbursements. The operation funneled approximately
According to prosecutors, Said used shell companies and related organizations to disguise how the funds were spent. Between August and December 2021, he transferred more than
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson
described the case as part of a much broader pattern of fraud uncovered in Minnesota.
“These crimes are not isolated events. They are part of a web of schemes targeting programs that are intended to lift up Minnesotans and bleeding them dry,” Thompson said. “The scale of the fraud in Minnesota is staggering, and every rock we turn over reveals more.”
Said faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison when formally sentenced. His case marks the 52nd conviction tied to the Feeding Our Future investigation, which has already exposed dozens of nonprofits and individuals who misused federal pandemic aid.
While Rep. Omar has not been accused of wrongdoing, Said’s past connection to her political campaign has drawn renewed attention. His role as a campaign “enforcer,” as described by local media, has fueled criticism from opponents who argue that Omar’s political circles have faced repeated controversies.
The Feeding Our Future fraud case has become one of the most significant examples of pandemic aid abuse, highlighting vulnerabilities in how emergency relief funds were distributed during COVID-19. Prosecutors continue to pursue additional suspects as part of what they describe as an “all-hands-on-deck” effort to recover stolen funds and restore public trust.