Minnesota Democrat Lieutenant Governors Viral Hijab Video Goes From Bad to Worse as New Allegations Surface
State fraud investigators have opened formal probes into two Minnesota autism therapy providers, and one of them is run by a woman who has spent nearly a quarter-century as a close friend of Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan.
Milestone Development Center and Spectrum Therapy Center both sit under active investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Nimco Ahmed heads Milestone as its chief executive officer. Alpha News broke the story first, and the state agency confirmed the probe.
Department officials chose their words carefully when addressing the case publicly.
“These agencies are on our radar,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson continued, “The Minnesota Department of Human Services has open investigations into both Spectrum Therapy Center and Milestone Development Centers. If a provider is part of an open investigation, the department cannot by law disclose details.”
The state did reveal one major consequence for both providers already.
“We can, however, share the following: Several months ago, the Minnesota Department of Human Services terminated both agencies from participating in the Medicaid program as part of Minnesota Revalidate 2026.
Revalidation is a process to verify that agencies have required credentials and are otherwise compliant with state and federal regulations. Both providers have appealed their termination.”
Neither agency has secured reinstatement into Medicaid since those terminations took effect.
Ahmed’s business now sits at the center of public attention largely because of her personal history with Flanagan.
The two women have been friends for almost 25 years, and Ahmed has built a long career as an activist within Minnesota’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.
That friendship became visible to the public through a video filmed for Somali TV.
Flanagan appeared in the footage wearing a hijab and declared, “The Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota.” Ahmed stood beside her.
The clip went viral across social media as a separate, massive fraud scandal involving the local Somali community continued to unfold.
Ahmed was born in Somalia and is listed online as Milestone’s CEO.
Her presence in that widely shared video has taken on new significance now that her own business faces a fraud probe of its own.
Flanagan has held the office of lieutenant governor since 2019.
Her record on the broader fraud scandal has drawn scrutiny for years, with critics repeatedly asking what steps she took to confront it during her time in office.
Milestone Development Center and Spectrum Therapy Center both sit under active investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Nimco Ahmed heads Milestone as its chief executive officer. Alpha News broke the story first, and the state agency confirmed the probe.
Department officials chose their words carefully when addressing the case publicly.
“These agencies are on our radar,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson continued, “The Minnesota Department of Human Services has open investigations into both Spectrum Therapy Center and Milestone Development Centers. If a provider is part of an open investigation, the department cannot by law disclose details.”
The state did reveal one major consequence for both providers already.
“We can, however, share the following: Several months ago, the Minnesota Department of Human Services terminated both agencies from participating in the Medicaid program as part of Minnesota Revalidate 2026.
Revalidation is a process to verify that agencies have required credentials and are otherwise compliant with state and federal regulations. Both providers have appealed their termination.”
Neither agency has secured reinstatement into Medicaid since those terminations took effect.
Ahmed’s business now sits at the center of public attention largely because of her personal history with Flanagan.
The two women have been friends for almost 25 years, and Ahmed has built a long career as an activist within Minnesota’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.
That friendship became visible to the public through a video filmed for Somali TV.
Flanagan appeared in the footage wearing a hijab and declared, “The Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota.” Ahmed stood beside her.
The clip went viral across social media as a separate, massive fraud scandal involving the local Somali community continued to unfold.
Ahmed was born in Somalia and is listed online as Milestone’s CEO.
Her presence in that widely shared video has taken on new significance now that her own business faces a fraud probe of its own.
Flanagan has held the office of lieutenant governor since 2019.
Her record on the broader fraud scandal has drawn scrutiny for years, with critics repeatedly asking what steps she took to confront it during her time in office.
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