An Indian-American attorney and prominent conservative voice has sounded the alarm on what she describes as a "huge fraud" within Ohio's Medicaid system, alleging it disproportionately impacts the Somali community and drains millions in taxpayer funds.
Details of the Alleged Multi-State Scam
Mehek Cooke, a loyalist to former President Donald Trump, claims that certain families are operating fraudulent "home health" businesses. She states these operations bill the state for care that is never provided, with some families allegedly collecting as much as $250,000 per year. Cooke explained the mechanics, noting that once a doctor approves the care, states continue payments for extensive hours—sometimes between 10 to 24 hours per day.
"So you could sit at home without caring for an elderly parent who really doesn't need it, make about $75,000 to $90,000 a year. Now you add two parents, that's $180,000. Now you add your in-laws $250,000," Cooke detailed. She emphasized that this scam is not confined to Ohio and is also occurring in states like Pennsylvania.
A Call to Audit and Protect Public Funds
Cooke has taken her allegations to the highest levels, alerting both the Ohio Attorney General’s office and the US Attorney’s office. She is pushing for a widespread investigation under the rallying cry: "Audit America. Audit Ohio now. And I'm pushing for that in every single state!"
Her central argument focuses on the protection of public money. "We really need to investigate the Medicaid system and how much it's increased since the Somalian population came and who really needs critical care because that's meant for our disabled, our elderly and people who really need it, not to just live off our system," Cooke asserted.
Cooke's Stance on Assimilation and American Identity
This controversy emerges shortly after Cooke entered another heated national debate. She publicly backed fellow Indian-American and GOP leader Vivek Ramaswamy's rejection of "heritage Americanism." On social media platform X, Cooke defended her own American identity, stating, "I am American. I came here legally and assimilated, our laws, culture, and shared standards. No one gets to rank my Americanness. The real divide is not heritage. It is legality and assimilation."
Her comments followed Ramaswamy's speech at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest, where he condemned racism and antisemitism within parts of the MAGA movement and denounced attacks on ethnic minorities including Hindus and Jews.
As a vocal MAGA ally, Mehek Cooke continues to position herself at the intersection of legal accountability, immigration discourse, and the conservative movement's future direction, urging rigorous scrutiny of public welfare systems.
