Autism center run by Peggy Flanagan associate faces state investigation amid hijab video controversy

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is investigating the Milestone Development Center, an autism clinic run by Nimco Ahmed, a longtime friend and political ally of Democratic Senate candidate and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. The probe, which follows the center's termination from the Medicaid program, has sparked intense political backlash. A former therapist alleged severe care deficiencies and billing red flags, while Ahmed has denied all wrongdoing, attributing the allegations to bias.

Flanagan's Relationship and Hijab Video Controversy

• ▪In a viral video posted on Somali TV showing her at a Somali market, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan wore a hijab and stated that the Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota
• ▪Milestone Development Center CEO Nimco Ahmed is a Somalia-born Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party activist who has been friends with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan for almost 25 years.
• ▪Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a Democratic Senate candidate, faced social media criticism after visiting a Somali market in December while wearing a hijab alongside Nimco Ahmed, whose autism center is under state investigation.

State Actions Against the Centers

• ▪The Minnesota Department of Human Services terminated Milestone Development Center and Spectrum Therapy Center from participating in the Medicaid program as part of Minnesota Revalidate 2026, a decision both providers have appealed.
• ▪The Minnesota Department of Human Services is conducting open fraud investigations into the Milestone Development Center and the Spectrum Therapy Center.

Allegations by Former Therapist

• ▪Former Milestone Development Center therapist Grant Morgan claimed he was never asked to write or sign session notes documenting services provided to clients at Milestone, which are central to how providers bill Medicaid
• ▪Former Milestone Development Center therapist Grant Morgan alleged that during his two months at Milestone Development Center in late 2023, he never saw a Qualified Supervising Professional or Board Certified Behavior Analyst overseeing the work

Nimco Ahmed's Response to Allegations

• ▪Milestone Development Center CEO Nimco Ahmed characterized questions about care at her center as bias, asserting that Alpha News pursued the story about her autism center because she is Somali
• ▪Milestone Development Center CEO Nimco Ahmed denied allegations of care deficiencies raised by former therapist Grant Morgan, stating that the center has proper oversight, serves children with verified autism diagnoses, follows state requirements, and is regularly audited

Peggy Flanagan's political record

• ▪Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has faced public questioning regarding why more action was not taken to address a sprawling fraud scandal in Minnesota, largely involving the local Somali community, over the past several years
• ▪Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has served as the state's lieutenant governor since 2019.