Minnesota’s political landscape, already reeling under the failing final term of Governor Tim Walz and his Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) establishment, is now facing a deeply disturbing scandal. The stench of alleged fraud is reaching directly into the inner circle of Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who is reportedly eyeing a Senate run.

At the heart of this unfolding controversy is Nimco Ahmed, a prominent figure and close, long-time friend of Lt. Governor Flanagan. Ahmed operates the Milestone Development Center, a facility ostensibly dedicated to providing care for autistic children. But a new whistleblower has come forward with explosive claims that shatter this facade.

Grant Morgan, an autism therapist who worked at Ahmed’s Milestone Development Center and another facility, Spectrum Therapy Center, alleges widespread fraudulent billing within these operations. His claims paint a grim picture of systemic abuse of a program designed to help vulnerable children. This comes as billing for autism centers in Minnesota has skyrocketed from a mere $6 million in 2018 to an astonishing $343 million in 2024. Common sense dictates that autism diagnoses have not expanded nearly enough to justify such an explosion in costs.

Mr. Morgan, it appears, has a crucial part of the answer. In an exclusive report, he detailed his concerns:

As explained in a post on X, Morgan's account is damning:

EXCLUSIVE: Former therapist slams 'fraudulent autism centers' in Minnesota, including one run by Flanagan's 'friend' Peggy Flanagan said she's been "friends for almost 25 years" with Nimco Ahmed. Now, DHS confirms an autism center operated by Ahmed is under investigation as a former employee of the center accuses it of being "fraudulent." Ahmed denied the allegations and told Alpha News that even asking questions about the care at her autism center was "bias." "I actually have an email conversation from 2023 stating that I did not believe their clients appeared to be autistic, and I also have a text message conversation from around that time telling someone that I was planning to leave that center because I had concerns related to fraud and that the owner, Nimco, didn't seem to care," said Grant Morgan, who used to work at Ahmed’s center.

While acknowledging some legitimate growth in services, Morgan believes a significant portion of the spending is fraudulent, stating, "I would not be surprised if half of that is fraudulent." He observed a severe lack of oversight and low-quality services at both Milestone and Spectrum, noting he never saw a Qualified Supervising Professional (QSP) or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Milestone, both critical for proper care oversight.

The close ties between Nimco Ahmed and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan are not new; they are long-standing and well-documented. This includes a rather questionable public appearance where Flanagan donned a hijab alongside Ahmed, effusively praising their "long friendship."

Now, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is reportedly investigating these centers for potential fraudulent billing, and it is not the first time Minnesota has seen actions taken against similar facilities. When it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and swims like a duck, it's probably a duck. And here we have a state's second-highest official, currently running for the Senate, publicly championing a close friend whose organization is now embroiled in a fraud probe, in a city that has regrettably become a "hotbed of just this sort of fraud."

Perhaps most alarming is a chilling detail revealed during an interview with Grant Morgan:

Liz Collin: "Grant Morgan, I know you left Minnesota, I know you finally feel safe now to tell your story publicly for the first time which we very much appreciate you being here to do so." Grant Morgan: "Thank you Liz, thanks for having me."

This exchange strongly suggests a man who felt physically threatened, compelled to leave the state before daring to speak out. This adds a profound new dimension to the allegations, raising serious questions about the environment in Minnesota's political and service sectors.

We will be closely monitoring the DHS investigation. As Minnesotans prepare to choose their next Senator, they deserve to know the full truth about what Peggy Flanagan’s "good buddy" Nimco Ahmed may have been involved in, and what that says about the leadership and accountability within the DFL establishment. Protecting vulnerable children and taxpayer dollars from alleged corruption must be a cornerstone of public trust, and anything less demands full accountability.