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@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Great segment on Newsmax featuring both @SteveRob and @LocalPoliticsis. These eight minutes summarize much of the fraud that's happening in Maine. (Via @RobFinnertyUSA) https://t.co/NWc6zKM0bj
Video Transcript AI Summary
The discussion centers on alleged fraud in Maine’s elder care sector, framed as Somalian/African fraud in a state considered very white. Steve Robinson, editor in chief of the Maine Wire, and John Featherston, a Maine Wire columnist, assert that immigrant workers—many with limited English and little health-care experience—are involved in schemes that steal taxpayer dollars by billing for care that is often neglected or nonexistent. Robinson distinguishes multiple fraudulent operations: some home care agencies are essentially PO boxes that submit invoices to the Department of Health and Human Services; others are residential care facilities operating as homes where real adults are present but care is understaffed and substandard, with employees overworked and sometimes asleep on the job.
A Department of Health and Human Services inspector general report is cited: in 2023, Maine improperly billed $46,000,000 in Medicaid payments to the federal government in one program (Section 28), and the state is seeking to claw back that money.
John Featherston notes visits to the Portland area where they toured home health care centers during business hours and found no staff present. Mustafa Alamedy, described as a 25-year-old Maynard resident, reportedly billed over a million dollars from 2021 to 2024 with an audit error rate around 70%. The hosts recount visiting multiple home health care facilities, often finding no employees or furniture, indicating non-operational sites despite billing activity.
A confrontation arises when a caller accuses the Maine Wire of propaganda and targets Somalis and immigrants. Steve Robinson responds by detailing alleged ties to Gateway Community Services, a organization accused of systemic Medicaid fraud over five and a half years by a former employee and under investigation by Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the state of Maine. Safiya Khalid, a former employee associated with Gateway, is named as making such accusations in the broadcast; her brother Mohammad Khalid runs another business from the same office complex. Robinson suggests Khalid should be sleepless at night if implicated in the fraud scheme, given ongoing investigations.
The Portland-area investigation is reiterated: there are three home health care facilities inside a building, yet during daytime hours no one appears to be working, and there is no furniture or desktops visible.
Governor Janet Mills is questioned about the $45,000,000+ in fraud findings, with the Maine Wire asserting that Mills’ administration did not actively support investigations into Gateway Community Services. They claim Mills’ attorney general later provided limited support and funding to Gateway with opioid settlement money after the outlet’s reporting, saying real investigation only gained traction after national media exposure.
The discussion closes with praise for the Maine Wire’s reporting, urging continued local investigative journalism to draw national attention. The guests are Steve Robinson and John Featherston.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Okay. So it's happening again. The next battleground for fraud that nobody wants to cover. Somalian fraud, African fraud happening in Maine, one of the whitest states in America. According to multiple reports in the Maine wire, African immigrants who do not speak English in many cases and have no experience in health care are allegedly stealing millions of taxpayer dollars from the state by taking a fifty hour course to care for elderly Americans and then billing the government.
All of this according to our next guest, Steve Robinson, the editor in chief at the Main Wire, and John Featherston is a columnist at the Main Wire, the only news outlet in the state of Maine that's actually interested in this story. It's great to have you both back on. Steve, are these people actually providing the care and then billing the government, or is this similar to what we've seen in Minneapolis with the Somalian fraud?
Speaker 1: In many cases, no. But in some cases, unfortunately, yes. They're providing some semblance of care, but it really boils down to neglect and abuse. As I told Sean Ryan on his podcast, it would be better if the patients were fake in some of these homes because the conditions that they're living in that have been described to me by eyewitnesses and people familiar with these operations are inhumane and deplorable. But I think it's important to understand that there's a diverse array of fraudulent operations happening in We have home care agencies that are essentially just PO boxes that send invoices to the Department of Health and Human Services and get paid.
But we also have the residential care facilities where actual houses are being operated under the guise of providing care for disabled adults. And there are real adults in those houses, but they're cutting corners and they're overworking their employees. So you have employees sleeping and neglecting the people they're supposed to be taking care of. So we have multiple different programs, multiple different different forms of fraud. And just last week, the office of inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services issued a report saying that in 2023 alone, Maine improperly billed $46,000,000 worth of Medicaid payments to the federal government, and this was one program
Speaker 0: $46,000,000. Wow.
Speaker 1: Section 28. 46,000,000. And they're looking to claw back that money.
Speaker 0: John, I know that you and Steve went to this, the five Satters Home Health Care Center. This was during business hours, by the way. Take a look at this.
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 3: So Mustafa Alamedy, as far as I can tell, is a 25 year old Maynard, and he has billed over a million dollars from over 1,000,000. Right? Yeah. From 2021 to 2024. He was audited, and his error billing rate was about 70%.
Speaker 0: Okay. I don't know where Mustafa was, the Satyrs, because they misspelled stars right there, John. Take us through what was going on there.
Speaker 4: Well, Rob, it's amazing that how many home health care businesses that Steve and I have visited in the Portland area. And when you go during normal business hours, and we've made multiple trips just to make sure that we didn't miss somebody, I I visited almost 30 home health care places that are billing millions of dollars back to the main taxpayers through main care, and I can't find anybody at work during their posted business hours. So what does that make you think?
Speaker 0: Wow. It reminds me of what's going on in Somalia, and you guys are the only one covering this in Maine. Steve, here's a local Maine Somali resident calling you a propagandist. Take a look.
Speaker 5: They're calling journalism. It's none of that is journalism. It's all propaganda. They are targeting Somali owned businesses, immigrant businesses. If you're black, you're being targeted.
If you're brown, you're being targeted. Somali folks and immigrant people in the state cannot sleep. They are literally in fear because of these white national neo Nazi folks.
Speaker 0: Steve, your reaction to being called a white national neo Nazi by a Somalian immigrant?
Speaker 1: I mean, this one is a a fastball right over the plate for me. That individual is Safiya Khalid. She's a former special assistant to Abdullahi Ali, the CEO of Gateway Community Services. Currently, Abdullahi Ali is on the lam in Kenya because he knows that if he sets foot on American soil, he's probably gonna be greeted by the FBI. Gateway Community Services has been credibly accused of systemic Medicaid fraud over a period of five and a half years by a former employee.
They're under investigation by Homeland Security, by the Department of Justice, by the state of Maine. They're facing multiple investigations, and miss Khalid there was an employee at that organization during the time where the alleged fraud occurred as was her brother, Mohammad Khalid, who also operates another business out of the same office complex. So I think that miss Khalid should have a reason to be sleepless at night if she's implicated in the elaborate fraud scheme that has been detailed by whistleblowers and that HSI is in the process of investigating.
Speaker 0: John, here is another. Are you at a home health center? This is in Portland, Maine, the biggest city in Maine right on the coast. Take a look.
Speaker 2: There are three home health care facilities inside this building, and it's before 03:00 in the afternoon. You would think that, people would be at work here. I've been to multiple health care places in the last week in
Speaker 4: the
Speaker 2: Portland area that are all billing main care back, but I never find any people.
Speaker 0: I mean, look at this John, where are all the people? Look at that building, by the way. Where is everybody?
Speaker 4: It it's it's amazing, Rob. I mean, you literally go and I peer through the window and look through the window, and there's no furniture. There's no desktop there. And you have to laugh at the legit home home care. I mean,
Speaker 0: that's Well, John, that's legit. If I need home care, I'm going there because they are legitimate. Can I just ask you, Janet Mills, Democrat governor in the state of Maine, you guys have uncovered, what, over $45,000,000? Does anyone in Augusta, in the capital care?
Speaker 1: Well, I'll say that we actually reported on Gateway Community Services and the credible allegations of fraud against them, almost a year ago. Our first report on that organization was in March 2025, and the CEO was running for president of Jubilant Somalia. At the same time, he was taking millions of dollars in Medicaid money and no bid contract money from the Mills administration. After our report came out, the attorney general of the state of Maine, Aaron Fry, who's a close ally of governor Janet Mills, gave Gateway Community Services $400,000 in opioid settlement money, gave them more money after they were credibly accused of fraud. Only when national media caught on ten months later and the pressure became too much did Janet Mills relent, and she said through a statement that she supported the investigation.
She effectively became the last person in the state of Maine to realize that there was fraud happening at Gateway Community Services, and there needed to be an investigation. So no. The answer is that that Janet Mills doesn't really support an investigation into this fraud. Quite the contrary. She's been complicit in sweeping it under the rug and covering it up
Speaker 0: Yeah.
Speaker 1: For political reasons.
Speaker 0: Well, gentlemen, it's because of the work that that you are doing that the national media is even paying attention to this. So please keep doing the work that you the stuff that you've uncovered here in the local media. You know, nobody cares. Nobody cares about this except the main wire. So keep it up.
Great having you on. Thank you. Steve Robinson, John Featherston. Appreciate it.
reSee.it AI Summary
I was taken aback by Portland City Councilor Pious Ali sharing a TikTok that seemed to target Afrikaner refugees in a racist manner. It's disheartening to see such anti-white sentiments. Meanwhile, some people appear upset about refugees who express gratitude and wave American flags. This comes after the Deputy Secretary of State welcomed the first group of Afrikaner refugees fleeing persecution in South Africa, emphasizing support for their new beginnings in the U.S.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
WOW: Portland City Councilor Pious Ali shares a WILDLY racist TikTok targeting the Afrikaner refugees. The anti-white hatred is shocking... https://t.co/6aXxDcgc8h
Video Transcript AI Summary
This video addresses white Afrikaners immigrating to the United States, stating that most Americans do not welcome them. The speaker claims they will be settled in less desirable states like Idaho, Ohio, and North Carolina.
Despite some believing the U.S. needs more farmers, the speaker asserts the need is for farm workers, implying Afrikaners may need to take on manual labor. They will likely need multiple jobs to maintain their previous living standards, and there will be no cheap servants. Healthcare will be an expense, possibly without Medicaid due to Republican cuts.
The Episcopalian Church reportedly ended its refugee resettlement program due to difficulties with this group. The speaker notes the U.S. is becoming less white and has a large Latino population, suggesting Afrikaners should speak English or Spanish instead of Afrikaans. Black people in the U.S. "don't get fucked with." The speaker predicts they will return to South Africa within a year.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: This video is for the white Afrikaners who are coming to The United States. I think you've already landed here. And I know that some of the folks who met you at the airport told you, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Most of us aren't glad you're here.
Okay? We don't want you here. We never wanted you here. And furthermore, I noticed they're gonna settle you in Idaho, Ohio, and North Carolina. I will tell you they're not our finest state.
So there's they're a good fit for you. I understand that many of you are farmers, and I've seen a lot of people say, oh, that's great. We need more farmers. Sorry to say we don't. We actually need farm workers because we've deported most of them.
So if you can, you know, put your picking hat on and think about, you know, picking produce, that's largely probably what you're gonna be doing here because I hear you don't have a lot of skills. I would also say that you're not gonna have to hold just one job, but probably two or three to make up for your quality of life that you had back in South Africa. There'll be no servants working for $2 a day. There's none of that here. So, you're the servant who's working for $2 a day.
So enjoy that. You're gonna have to pay for your health care. And ordinarily, because you're a refugee, who's being discriminated against, you would go on Medicaid. But guess what? The Republicans just cut Medicaid.
So, I don't think you're gonna have that option for health care. So maybe you'll do without. I don't know. And honestly, I don't care. I did notice that the Episcopalian Church had a program with the government where they would, excuse me, they would resettle and help, you know, refugees resettle.
They find you all to be so onerous. They terminated the partnership with the government, and they said, yeah, we won't be resettling those folks. Other things that you need to know about. While we are 58% white here in The United States, that's not gonna last much longer. Within the next couple years, we're gonna be the minority, which will be fun for you because that's what you're used to.
Interestingly enough, we have a ton of Latinos. We're the second largest Spanish speaking country in the world. So for you, if you could stop speaking that dirty guttural, whatever it is, German, French, Dutch thing that you speak, that Afrikaans, nobody wants to hear that shit. So you can speak English or you can speak Spanish, which is really the second language here. In terms of other things that you need to know about, the black people in this country, they don't get fucked with.
Okay? I know that there's a long legacy of colonialism and all kinds of stuff happening in your country, but, our black folks have sort of been through the fire, if you will, and they're not gonna be fucked with. So, you're the minority here. Enjoy. I I I really hope you like your time here.
I'm gonna bet my ass that, you're gonna be booking it back to SA probably within the next twelve months. Have a great day.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Some people are really triggered at refugees who wave American flags and seem genuinely appreciative to be here... https://t.co/IWIgmICkFY
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Update: The Mills Admin DIFW has immediately rescinded a sex-based quota policy the Trump Admin alleged was a violation of civil rights. https://t.co/7O1gmeaKoO
@BigSteve207 - Steve Robinson
The Trump Admin has informed Maine's wildlife commissioner that it will suspend all Interior Dept. grants next week unless the state ends a sex-based quota policy for hiring. Here's the policy: https://t.co/zkG3pYdSqO
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
BREAKING: @shennabellows bars Trump from the Ballot https://t.co/jLQpb6wOnQ
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Shenna Bellows, a far-left Democrat, claimed on MSNBC that there was absolutely no bias at all in her decision to remove Trump from the ballot. https://t.co/lgkSnrqyLB
Video Transcript AI Summary
My primary duty is to uphold the constitution and the rule of law. Without any other influences, we concluded that Mr. Trump committed insurrection under section 3 of the 14th amendment.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: 1st and foremost, it's important to know my oath to the constitution, my obligations to the constitution and rule of law come before any other consideration. No other factors could weigh on that decision and did not. We determined, under section 3 of the 14th amendment that mister Trump engaged in insurrection and therefore
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Bellows on CNN: "No Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access... But no presidential candidate has ever engaged in insurrection" https://t.co/3n0WnZEnVZ
Video Transcript AI Summary
I understand the speaker's point that they are aware of the uniqueness of their decision. They mention that no previous secretary of state has ever used Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to prevent a presidential candidate from accessing the ballot. However, they also note that no presidential candidate has ever participated in an insurrection and been disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Again, I am so mindful, and I I said this in my decision, that it is unprecedented. No secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, but no presidential candidate has ever engaged in insurrection and then disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
"She made herself judge, jury and executioner in this point. And it's wrong." @mike_soboleski, who was at the Shenna Bellows Trump eligibility hearing, joined the @HowieCarrShow to react to her decision. https://t.co/DHsNM4ZCv5
Video Transcript AI Summary
Democrats are being criticized for their actions, which are seen as undermining democracy. The decision made by the Secretary of State to limit voting rights is seen as disappointing and an assault on the rights of Mainers. The argument revolves around the 14th Amendment, with the Trump attorney arguing that the Secretary of State overstepped her authority. The hope is that President Trump will be reelected, along with a Republican Congress, so that law and order can be restored. It is believed that this decision will be overturned by the Maine Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court. In the meantime, it is clear that Democrats have a specific agenda in mind.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: How do you score points with Democrats when their whole cry is to say that we wanna save democracy, but this is clearly not how democracy is supposed to work?
Speaker 1: It's not. This is an assault on the rights, on the voting rights of nearly a half a 1000000 Mainers who, have the right to voice Vote for whoever they wanna vote for, both Republican and unenrolled, independents. So it's it's too bad that it's come down to this. I was Really disappointed with that decision last night.
Speaker 0: Now does she have a legitimate standing here in your estimation to do what she did?
Speaker 1: Was the only elected official who testified during the nearly 8 hour hearing in support of, president Trump. And the only thing that's missing is this room is the voice of the public, the voice of the people that I represent. The argument came down to, 14th Amendment section 3. That's what they kept going back to over and over again and Trump attorney Gessler, Scott Gessler pointed out many times to the secretary that she did not have the authority To overstep her bounds on, Amendment 14, Section 3. It says, shall have engaged in insurrectional rebellion.
That's what it is. She made herself judge, jury and executioner in this point and it's wrong. We need to elect President Trump. We need to give them a Republican Congress, and we need to appoint ethical US attorneys, so we can have restore law and order in our country. I think that this is going to get overturned.
I believe it's going to go to the, main Supreme Court. I know the US Supreme Court is, going to be hearing this as well. I think once it gets that far and they make their determination, it should take care of this, nationwide and put an end to it. But in the meantime, Tayla, We know what they're up to. We know this is their angle right now, and this is the way they're going.
So it's the w no.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Astounding: In 2021, @shennabellows on a conference call talked about how voter suppression was an "attack on our very democracy itself." (Via @Th_Midwesterner) https://t.co/JLun7qslHW
Video Transcript AI Summary
The speakers discuss the biggest threats to democracy, including election sabotage, voter suppression, and the need for federal standards. They emphasize the importance of organizing and having better leaders to fight against these threats. The speakers believe that these actions are rooted in white supremacy and an organized campaign to discourage people from participating in democracy. They stress the need to protect democracy to ensure social justice, climate justice, and economic justice.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: And, secretary Bellows, would love to hear about your thoughts on, like, our biggest threats facing, our democracy at this point in time. Well, what secretary Griswold just said and named is something that was unimaginable 2 years ago or 10 years ago, and that is election sabotage is a crystal clear example of what's happening all across the country, so we need to organize to make sure we have better leaders in positions of power to fight back against said, secretary Benson talked about, voter suppression and that's something that when we started careers at ACLU and Southern Poverty Law Center is fighting back about systematic structural voter repression targeting specifically black and brown voters, it's rooted in white supremacy. That is something we have to continue to do work on and secretary Merrill talked about the for the people act and the Freedom to Vote Act, we must have federal standards all across the country. And then finally just to echo my colleagues, this is rooted in a deliberate have an organized campaign to discourage people from participating in our democracy. It is an attack on our very democracy solved because when everyone participates, everything that we care about social justice, climate justice, economic justice, we win.
Those on the other side are trying to discourage people from participating. That's what this really is about. We have to fight back to protect our democracy to protect everything.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Shenna Bellows on CNN responded to @RepGolden's statement disagreeing with her decision to remove Trump from the ballot. https://t.co/X3pKlY2PXN
Video Transcript AI Summary
In the decision, it was argued that Donald Trump participated in an insurrection. The consideration of whether he should be allowed on the ballot before being found guilty of the crime of insurrection was discussed. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was carefully reviewed, which states "engage" rather than "conviction." The events of January 6, 2021, were described as unprecedented and tragic, constituting an attack on the capital, government officials, and the rule of law. The weight of evidence reviewed indicated that it was indeed an insurrection, and Donald Trump was involved according to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: In your decision, you argue that Donald Trump engaged in insurrection. You did hold a public hearing, ahead of the decision. It's interesting to know, democratic congressman from Maine, Jared Golden, said in a statement in response to this decision, quote, until he's actually found guilty of crime of of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot. Did that consideration weigh on your decision or give you any pause?
Speaker 1: I reviewed Section 3 of the 14th Amendment very carefully and determined that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment does not say conviction. Action. It says engage. And let's go back and keep in mind that the events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic. This was an attack not only on the capital and the government officials, the former vice president, members of Congress, but an attack on the rule of law.
And the weight of evidence that I reviewed indicated that it was in fact an insurrection And mister Trump engaged in that insurrection under section 3 of the 14th amendment.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Representative Andrews: "Under Shenna Bellows' new standard, you could argue that President Biden be barred due to Section Three, with the statement of giving aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." https://t.co/yJlNYdkvDq
Video Transcript AI Summary
Speaker 0 questions if Speaker 1 is consumed with power and cites the 14th Amendment Section 3. According to Speaker 0, under Speaker 1's new standard, one could argue that President Biden should be barred due to Section 3, which states that giving aid or comfort to enemies can lead to disqualification. Speaker 0 argues that actions like releasing funds to Iran, selling strategic oil reserves, and prioritizing Chinese interests could potentially qualify as disqualifying acts under Speaker 1's rules. Speaker 0 concludes by stating that Speaker 1 has created a dangerous game.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Is she, consumed with, drunk with power of her office? Well, they've repeatedly cited the 14th Amendment Section 3. And under Cianna Bello's new standard, you could argue that President Biden, be barred due to Section 3 with the statement of giving aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. I'd argue that releasing 1,000,000,000 to Iran and selling our strategic oil reserves or the Chinese interests, could qualify that if no convictions are required under Cianna Bello's new rules. And that's why this is such a dangerous game that she's created.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
EXCLUSIVE: Watch as "democracy defender" @shennabellows explains how she exploited Ranked Choice Voting to become Secretary of State. https://t.co/ZWdzpk71gX
Video Transcript AI Summary
I ran for a guest position in the United States Senate and it was a challenging experience as I faced strong opposition.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: And then I decided to run a guest in the comments of the United States Senate. It was a bit of a cool experience. I got demolished,
reSee.it AI Summary
I have an updated map of illegal Chinese marijuana grow sites, with each red pin representing a new site identified since the original map was posted. These sites are properties acquired by out-of-state Chinese nationals and turned into illegal marijuana grows, estimated to potentially generate $4bn annually. Check out our latest reporting on the ongoing illicit drug activity in Wilton, Maine. #TriadWeed
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
UPDATED ILLEGAL CHINESE MARIJUANA GROW MAP. Each red pin represents a new grow site identified by the Maine Wire since we posted the original map a month ago.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Original map: https://x.com/BigSteve207/status/1722234139519398026?s=20
@BigSteve207 - Steve Robinson
Each pin represents a property acquired in the past three years by out-of-state Chinese nationals and turned into an illegal marijuana grow. CBP estimates the operation could net $4bn annually. ==> https://www.themainewire.com/2023/11/triad-weed-illegal-chinese-marijuana-grows-are-all-over-maine/
Triad Weed: How Chinese Marijuana Grows Took Over Rural Maine - The Maine Wire
Illegal Chinese marijuana grows have taken over much of rural Maine. The government is either incapable — or unwilling — to do anything about it. The Maine Wire has identified more than 100 properties that are part of a sprawling network of Chinese-owned sites operating as unlicensed, illicit cannabis growing operations in rural Maine. According
themainewire.com
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Read our latest reporting on #TriadWeed: Two Weeks After $1M Western Maine Marijuana Raid, Wilton Still Abuzz With Illicit Drug Activity https://www.themainewire.com/2023/12/triad-weed-two-weeks-after-1m-western-maine-marijuana-raid-wilton-still-abuzz-with-illicit-drug-activity/
Triad Weed: Two Weeks After $1M Western Maine Marijuana Raid, Wilton Still Abuzz With Illicit Drug Activity - The Maine Wire
Just two weeks after the Wilton Police Department and Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy confiscated more than $1,000,000 in illegally cultivated marijuana plants at a commercial-scale grow near the old Bass Shoe building, the site remains abuzz with activity — and not of the law enforcement variety. Individuals observed returning to the scene of the
themainewire.com
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Almost 70 of the more than 270 illegal marijuana growth sites in Maine have mortgages originating from one NYC bank. @BigSteve207 joined @tomshattuck to describe our latest reporting on #TriadWeed. View the story: https://www.themainewire.com/2023/11/triad-weed-one-nyc-bank-financed-more-than-50-illicit-chinese-marijuana-grow-houses-in-rural-maine/
Video Transcript AI Summary
A bank called Quantic Bank in New York City is receiving funding from the US Treasury Department to provide home loans to non-US citizens, including illegal aliens and foreign nationals. Our investigation found that around 70 properties in Maine, financed by Quantic Bank for Chinese foreign nationals, have turned into illegal marijuana growing operations. Two loan officers, Steven Ho and Ying Chen Wang, were responsible for most of these mortgages. Ho is a Taiwanese national, while Wang is a Chinese national who studied economic warfare at a university in China.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Where is the funding mechanism for this, and why is it still happening? So we broke the story this morning at demaingwire.com about a single bank in New York City called Quantic Bank. And Quantic is a community development financial institution, which is a special designation from the Federal Government. It's a program run under the US Treasury Department. There's a big taxpayer fund that helps them, to provide loans, home loans to illegal aliens, non US citizens, people who are in the US, but can't obtain US citizenship or even just foreign nationals who are looking to buy up property, in America.
And what we uncovered through our research is that about 70 properties in Maine, that were financed by Quantic Bank on behalf of Chinese foreign nationals from primarily New York and Massachusetts went on to become illicit marijuana growing operations that are currently operating within the state of Maine. The Quantic Bank loan officers for these mortgages, there's 2 that did most of them. 1 is a guy named Steven Ho, who is a Taiwanese national. And the other is a woman named Ying Chen Wang, who is a Chinese national and actually attended a university in China that specializes in teaching, economic warfare.
Triad Weed: One NYC Bank Financed More Than 50 Illicit Chinese Marijuana Grow Houses in Rural Maine - The Maine Wire
Asian transnational criminal organizations operate more than 270 illegal marijuana cultivation sites in Maine, according to a leaked U.S. Department of Homeland Security memo. An investigation by the Maine Wire has identified more than 100 of those sites, as previously reported here. Of those properties — almost all purchased within the last three years by
themainewire.com
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
The Maine Democratic Party received $100,000 in donations from FTX. They have no plans to give it back. Story: https://www.themainewire.com/2023/11/maine-democrats-made-100k-from-sam-bankman-frieds-crypto-fraud-and-refuse-to-give-the-money-to-the-u-s-attorney/
Maine Democrats Made $100k from Sam Bankman-Fried's Crypto Fraud and Refuse to Give the Money to the U.S. Attorney - The Maine Wire
The Maine Democratic Party was the recipient of $100,000 in donations stemming from notorious fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried’s corrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, and they have no plans to give it back. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which on Thursday won seven guilty verdicts against Bankman-Fried, has called on political committees that
themainewire.com
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Why did the many warning signs displayed by Robert Card not trigger Maine's yellow flag laws? More: https://www.themainewire.com/2023/11/maine-state-police-col-william-ross-responds-to-questions-regarding-lewiston-shooter-manhunt-failure-of-yellow-flag-law-wgan/
Video Transcript AI Summary
Text messages were sent to Corporal Kevin Mote of the Ellsworth Police Department, who forwarded them to the Saginawoc Sheriff's County office. One message mentioned concern about a potential mass shooting. However, there was no coordinated system to collect and take action on this information. There is no central clearing house or person responsible for identifying and evaluating individuals who may pose a threat. The yellow flag law, which allows for the removal of weapons from individuals, has limitations, especially when incidents occur in different states. In this case, despite in-state threats and reports to the police, the yellow flag law was not invoked. It is unclear who should have triggered it. The responsibility lies with the law enforcement agency to track down the individual and determine if an evaluation is necessary. The Saginaw County Sheriff's Department seems to be the focal point, but it is unclear why their actions were insufficient.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Some of those text messages that were sent to corporal Kevin Mote of the Ellsworth Police Department who then forwarded them on to the, Saginawoc Sheriff's County office. One of those text messages said, quote, I believe he's going to snap and do a mass shooting. A lot of people knew a lot of things, but there didn't seem to be some sort of a coordinated place where that information could be not only collected, but then somebody could take, like, individual action, if you will. Like, so some somebody in charge on the top of a hierarchy. Is that maybe part of what's going on here?
Speaker 1: Yeah. And it doesn't exist. There there isn't like a clearing house for this where, you know, this person comes on the radar and somebody is attached to this saying, hey. This person Needs to be found. This person needs to be placed and and and evaluated.
And when you look at the the yellow flag law, you know, there's a lot of things that has that have to take place to get that to get to the point where you can remove weapons from That individual's, you know, possession. I mean, you can have a history in an in another state or incidents in another state. And when you come into Maine, it it it it kind of resets. And I think that that
Speaker 0: That's true. But we did have in state things. I mean, the threat against the military base in Saco and His family reporting things to police and whatnot. It it strikes me as, you know, the yellow flag law, according to the, experts that spoke with the Bangor Daily News, should have been invoked here, because of the main side of things. And and it wasn't.
And somebody should've invoked it. Somebody should've triggered it, and that yet that didn't happen. And I'm I'm having a difficult time figuring out who the somebody is. Like, where was that supposed to happen and it didn't?
Speaker 1: I think when Whoever's responsible for whoever inherited this as a case, and that in that entity Needs to track this individual down, and you continue to track this individual down till you locate them, and then you can make that assessment as a law enforcement agency. And if you can make that determination that they need to be brought in for an evaluation and you start following the steps of that of of that yellow flag law. And I think that's where things were dropped that people that had that information. That sounds like
Speaker 0: the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department then because that seems to be the the nexus point of this.
Speaker 1: And and, again, I I think that's where, certainly, their Their file 6 that they put out with that information and I don't know why the file 6 was canceled, but I think that, You know, this individual may need it to be brought in and evaluate
Maine State Police Col William Ross Responds to Questions Regarding Lewiston Shooter Manhunt, Failure of Yellow Flag Law: WGAN - The Maine Wire
Maine State Police Col. William Ross faced tough questions Thursday morning regarding the manhunt for Lewiston shooter Robert Card during an interview on WGAN Morning News with Matt Gagnon. [RELATED: Maine Gov Calls for “Independent” Commission to Review Police, Army Failures and Botched Investigation Around Robert Card’s Lewiston Murder Spree…] The Maine State Police (MSP)
themainewire.com
reSee.it AI Summary
Governor Mills plans to establish an independent commission to investigate the police response to the Lewiston shooting. Concerns about the shooter's mental health and behavior were previously raised to his Army National Reserve Unit and law enforcement agencies in Maine and New York. Questions arise regarding actions taken and potential prevention of this tragedy. National media recently questioned the governor on this matter.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Governor Mills announced today her intent to establish an independent commission to determine facts surrounding the police response to the Lewiston shooting. “It is important to recognize that, from what we know thus far, on multiple occasions over the last ten months, concerns about Mr. Card’s mental health and his behavior were brought to the attention of his Army National Reserve Unit, as well as law enforcement agencies here in Maine and in New York. This raises crucial questions about actions taken and what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy from occurring."
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
This comes just days after national media grilled her over this very topic: https://x.com/TheMaineWire/status/1719142530346815891?s=20
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
MILLS VS MEDIA! 🥊🥊 Very pointed exchanges broke out between Governor Mills and the media after she refused to answer questions about the Lewiston shooter. https://t.co/jcdMtNi8xK
Video Transcript AI Summary
Speaker 0 politely asks for the audience to lower their voices and thanks someone for their question. Speaker 1 mentions that federal authorities were not informed about certain information regarding the shooter. Speaker 0 asks for clarification on who "they" refers to. Speaker 1 explains that it was the local police who did not share the information. Speaker 0 states that the matter is under investigation and asks not to argue. Speaker 0 acknowledges the concern in the community but states that the facts are yet to be determined. Speaker 0 refuses to make assumptions and ends the conversation.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: I'm not excuse me. Please lower your voice, please. I'm not here to argue. Excuse me. Thank you for your question.
Yes, sir. Excuse me. You go on the same Hello? Yes?
Speaker 1: It seems as though information was not shared with federal authorities when they knew that, they had information about
Speaker 0: I'm sorry. Who's the they
Speaker 1: Why was that Why was that not shared?
Speaker 0: Who I don't know what you're referring to now. They
Speaker 1: Information that was that was received by local police that they had about the shooter that they did not share.
Speaker 0: They meaning Sorry. You really don't know what we're talking about. Sir. Sir. I've answered the question.
You sir? Yeah. I'm sorry. It's under investigation. I please don't argue with me, sir.
Please don't that's not what we do in name. We don't argue with people like this. We know that there has been an alarming concern in the long hustle community that Activity and information here was ignored. And the simple answer is why was that done and are you concerned? I think those kinds of facts are yet to be determined.
You're making assumptions. I'm not willing to make those assumptions. Alright? Thank you very much. We're gonna wrap there.
We
reSee.it AI Summary
@TheMaineWire shared a video where @SenAngusKing and @SenatorCollins read the names and bios of 18 Lewiston shooting victims on the Senate floor. @MikeJon85258994 responded by mentioning the police who allegedly failed to prevent the incident, tagging various officials.
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Full Video: @SenAngusKing and @SenatorCollins read the names and bios of all 18 Lewiston shooting victims on the Senate floor. https://t.co/6QIqvx9yDF
Video Transcript AI Summary
Tricia Aslett, Peyton Brewer Ross, William Frank Brackett, Thomas Ryan Conrad, Michael Deloria, Max Hathaway, Brian McFarland, Keith McNear, Ronald Morant, Joshua Seale, Arthur Stroud, Steve, Lucille Violet, Bob Violet, Joseph Lawrence Walker, and William Young were among the victims of a tragic shooting at a restaurant and bowling alley. They were hardworking individuals, dedicated parents, and active members of their communities. Their lives were cut short in a senseless act of violence. The survivors and the community are determined to heal and prevent such tragedies in the future. Love and remembrance for these beloved individuals will always remain.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Tricia Aslett. Tricia, age 53, was a part time employee at Just In Time Recreation and was fatally shot while calling 911. She was a mother who worked 3 jobs, an accomplished athlete, and a terrific volunteer. Peyton Brewer Ross. Peyton, 40, was a new father and a pipe fitter at Bath Iron Works.
He enjoyed playing cornhole and often brought beanbags to family gatherings according to his brother. He was described as the life of the party. William Frank Brackett. William was 48. He was part of the gathering of deaf people who were playing cornhole.
He was known for his ability to help place those to her death in the workplace. He had just celebrated his 3rd wedding anniversary with his wife in August and leaves behind a two and a half year old daughter. Thomas Ryan Conrad. Thomas, 34, was manager of Just In Time Recreation and was an army veteran who served tours in Iraq. He had just returned to the state of Maine to be closer to his daughter, and he was one of the brave individuals who attempted to stop the shooter.
Michael Deloria. Michael was fatally shot while trying to rush to the gunman at Just In Time Recreation. His close friend, Jason Walker, was also killed in the bowling alley. The 2 men made sure that their wives and children were undercover before charging at the killer. Max Hathaway.
Max was 35 and a stay at home father. He and his wife were expecting their 3rd child and a little more than a mom. He was described as a goofy, down to earth person who always had an uplifting attitude no matter what was going on. He was working on completing his degree at in business administration at the University of Southern Maine. Brian McFarland.
Brian, 41, had recently moved back to Maine to be closer to his mother. He was playing in the cornhole tournament for the deaf community at the restaurant and bar. He loved the outdoors and was one of the 1st deaf people in Vermont to earn his commercial driver's license. He was often accompanied on the road by his beloved dog, M&M. Michael McNear.
I'm sorry. Keith McNear. Keith McNear was 64, and lived in Florida. He was visiting Maine to grade his 64th birthday with his son. He most recently worked as chief of maintenance at the Virgin Islands National Park.
Ronald Morant. Ronald, 55, was a dedicated husband and father of 2, and was described by his family and friends as having an infectious personality. He was a sales merchandiser for Coca Cola and was an avid cornhole player. Now senator King will resume the reading of the rest of those who lost their lives.
Speaker 1: Mr. President, Senator Collins mentioned that one of the most poignant parts of this tragedy was that there were 4 members of the Maine deaf community Who happened to be at this restaurant playing cornhole, recreation, having fun. And one of them was Joshua Seale. He was 36 years old, member of the deaf community, regular, went to the Bar and grill to play cornhole. During the pandemic, this gentleman served as the American Sign Language interpreter For our head of our CDC who had press conferences practically every day, he became one of the best known people in Maine.
He was a director of interpreting services. He coordinated summer camps for the deaf and hard of hearing. And he was the father To 4 children. Arthur Stroud, 42, was playing pool. Arthur was the husband and father of 5 children, described as a Christmas person who started decorating For Christmas around Halloween.
Steve, 45, was a letter carrier For the US Postal Service and also an active member of the deaf community, a letter carrier, mailman. He was playing in the cornhole tournament for the deaf at the restaurant when the shooting happened. He was the father of 2 And was preparing to celebrate his 1 year anniversary with his wife next month. Lucille Violet, 73, was a valued member of the business office of the Lewiston Public Schools. She was well known in the community.
She worked in the community for over 52 years, fatally shot alongside of her husband, Bob Violet, At the bowling alley. Bob Violet was 76. He was a dedicated volunteer coach in a youth bowling league And he was shot and died along with his wife while out for a night of bowling. Joseph Lawrence Walker, 57, was the manager of the bar and grill. His father is a city councilor in Auburn.
And he recounted that his son's final moments were spent trying to save lives during the shooting. Who was shot at the bowling alley. His close friend, Michael, was also killed when the 2 of them charged the gunman To try to make others safe. And as my colleague mentioned, they made sure their wives and children were safe before They took their last risk. William Young, Bill Young, 44, auto mechanic, Father to a 14 year old son.
He was described as the rock of the family. And perhaps most poignantly, that 14 year old son, Aaron, was also killed. He was a high school honor student, Proud of his grades, an avid bowler, and he lost his life that night in this tragedy. Senator Collins and I on Sunday night were at a vigil at the magnificent Catholic basilica in Lewiston. There were well over a 1000 people in that church.
And when we went outside afterwards, there were well over a 1000 on a cold night In Maine, watching and listening to the service. One of the most poignant moments in the service For me, it was when a member of the deaf community gave his address in sign language. And it was the reverse of what we usually see where a person is speaking and there's an interpreter. In this case, The person was giving the signs and the interpreter was giving us the words that we could hear. And one of the signs we learned was this, It means love.
And there's another sign, American sign language for love. This community will never recover from this tragedy, but it will heal. But it will only heal as long as we remember and understand that this was a tragedy. And we have to resolve ourselves to move forward, to find a way to prevent tragedies like this, And to always remember those people that gave their lives on a night of fun, on a night of recreation, On a night when there was no expectation of such an event occurring. And we just have to remember all of these wonderful people, These beloved people.
@MikeJon85258994 - none
@TheMaineWire @SenAngusKing @SenatorCollins Read the names of the police who failed to prevent this after months of warnings. @SenAngusKing @SenatorCollins @POTUS @GovJanetMills @MEStatePolice @TheJusticeDept
@TheMaineWire - The Maine Wire
Watch 2018 Biden bragging about how he had threatened to withhold $1 Billion in congressionally approved funding to Ukraine unless the state prosecutor Viktor Shokin was fired. Newly released documents appear to indicate he did this after receiving a $10 million bribe. More: https://themainewire.com/2023/07/fbi-told-in-2017-that-bidens-allegedly-pressured-burisma-to-pay-10-million-to-have-ukrainian-prosecutor-fired/
Video Transcript AI Summary
I went to Kyiv to announce a $1 billion loan guarantee, but only if they took action against the state prosecutor. When they didn't, I refused to give them the money. They said I had no authority, so I told them to call the president. I made it clear that if the prosecutor wasn't fired within 6 hours, they wouldn't get the money. And guess what? He got fired. They made some significant changes institutionally and with people.
Full Transcript
Speaker 0: Convincing us that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kyiv, and, and I was going supposed to announce that there was another $1,000,000,000 loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from, Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor, and they didn't. So they said they had they were walking out to press conference. I said, no.
I said, I'm not gonna we're we're not gonna give you the $1,000,000,000. They said, you have no authority. You're not the president. The president said I said, call him. I said, I'm telling you, you're not getting $1,000,000,000.
I said, you're not getting a $1,000,000,000. I'm gonna be leaving here, and I think it was, what, 6 hours? I looked at I said, I'm leaving in 6 hours. If the prosecutor's not fired, you're not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch.
You got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time. Well, there's still so they've made some genuine substantial changes institutionally and with people.