EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senator Introducing Bill To Yank Passports From Fraudsters Accused Of Swindling Taxpayers
Politics
EXCLUSIVE: Joni Ernst Introducing Bill To Yank Passports From Fraudsters Accused Of Swindling Taxpayers
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Nicole Silverio
Capitol Hill Reporter
June 26, 2026
1:11 PM ET
June 26, 2026 1:11 PM ET
Nicole Silverio
Capitol Hill Reporter
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Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst plans to introduce legislation that would require alleged fraudsters to surrender their passports as a condition of pretrial release, the Daily Caller News Foundation learned Friday.
The “Preventing Fugitive Fraudsters Act” would require defendants accused of government program fraud to surrender their passports upon pretrial release to ensure they cannot flee the U.S. Many defendants accused of fraud were released on bail and fled the U.S. despite warnings that they posed a flight risk.
“Fugitive fraudsters are fleeing justice and the country with stolen taxpayer dollars in tow, enabled by lenient liberal judges letting them keep their passports before trial,” Ernst told the DCNF. “Anyone ripping off hardworking Americans does not need a passport to reach their final destination, which should be behind bars. We need to ground these high-flying con artists for good.”
Preventing Fugitive Fraudsters Act by nicolesilverio
Ernst’s office told the DCNF when asked about potential due process concerns that because there is no right to pretrial release, no due process rights would be infringed. (RELATED: Illegal Alien Sentenced 8 Years For $89 Million Payroll Tax Fraud Scheme)
However, Michael Fox, a CATO Institute legal fellow, told the DCNF that the legislation was a “dangerous solution” that could force low-risk defendants with no foreign connections to unnecessarily surrender their passports. He argued the legislation was rooted in a “profound misunderstanding of federal bail law.”
“The Preventing Fugitive Fraudsters Act is a dangerous solution in search of a problem, arising out of a profound misunderstanding of federal bail law,” Fox told the DCNF. “Under current law, federal judges already possess broad authority to seize passports—or detain individuals pretrial who pose a genuine flight risk— following an individualized determination. By flipping the script and making passport forfeiture the default mandate for these fraud statutes, this bill further empowers prosecutors and unnecessarily sweeps in defendants with deep community ties and zero intention of fleeing the jurisdiction—let alone the country.”
A defendant would not have to surrender their passport if a judge issued “specific written findings of fact” that the surrender would be “unnecessary,” the legislation states.
A number of alleged fraudsters released from custody skipped their court appearances and fled the U.S. to avoid conviction, Ernst’s office told the DCNF. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, an individual named Abdirashid Ismail Said allegedly billed Medicaid for nearly $11 million over four years, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office. During a probation violation hearing, Said allegedly lied under oath by denying any involvement with the scheme.
A case detective warned Said could be a potential flight risk since his wife and child lived in Kenya, according to Fox 9 KMSP. However, a judge presiding over the case released Said from custody on a $150,000 bond, and he skipped his court appearance after appearing to flee the U.S.
Another suspect, Kaamil Omar Sallah, owned a company called SafeLodgings, Inc., which was accused of defrauding Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The state paid Sallah nearly $1.3 million to provide Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) between March 2023 and August 2025, although he allegedly spent much of the funds on himself and investments, including nearly $150,000 in a cryptocurrency exchange.
The DOJ charged Sallah with four counts of wire fraud. Federal agents served Sallah with a grand jury subpoena for company records related to the HSS program in November 2025, though Sallah fled the U.S. to Amsterdam.
Khalid Ahmed Satary and Emylee Thai were added to the FBI’s “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list Tuesday for their alleged involvement in healthcare fraud schemes, FBI Director Kash Patel announced. Satary was allegedly involved in a $547 million healthcare fraud conspiracy tied to a genetic testing scheme. He is believed to be hiding in the United Arab Emirates.
Thai’s laboratory allegedly billed Medicare roughly $142 million for genetic testing and allegedly successfully pocketed about $95 million on those claims.
About $350 million in cash left the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on flights to foreign countries, Minnesota-based Fox 9 reported in March. Lawmakers voiced concerns that some of the money leaving the U.S. was tied to fraud, though investigations were still ongoing.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
