Part 4/13:

One of the most alarming aspects of the investigation involves claims that a substantial portion of Minnesota's fraudulent visa and financial programs could have funded terrorist groups. The federal government is now examining whether the stolen taxpayer dollars might have been diverted toward al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate operating primarily from Somalia.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassant has publicly blamed Minnesota's government and, implicitly, the local Somali community, for facilitating a system where 50% of visas issued are allegedly fraudulent. Echoing this concern, Republican lawmakers have called for a rigorous investigation into the matter, emphasizing that such trafficking of money for terrorist purposes endangers national security.