Maine taxpayers may have been defrauded out of millions of dollars through the state’s Medicaid program, according to a whistleblower who says the scheme mirrors the massive Minnesota welfare scandal that drained an estimated $1 billion from programs meant to serve vulnerable Americans.

Christopher Bernardini, a former billing coordinator at Gateway Community Services, claims the Maine-based health services contractor systematically billed MaineCare for services that were never provided.

Bernardini worked at Gateway from May 2018 until April 2025 and describes himself as a “billing guru” responsible for tracking services delivered to low-income and disabled clients.

In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, Bernardini said Gateway maintained false records showing staff visits that never occurred, allowing the company to bill taxpayers for phantom care.

He alleges an electronic monitoring system designed to track employee movements was manipulated to create the appearance that workers visited clients’ homes, even when staff were nowhere near the locations.

“They charged taxpayers for services that were never performed,” Bernardini said.

“I thought we were helping people. I thought everything was on the up-and-up,” he said. “I have a passion for helping people, and I believed we were doing the right thing.”

That belief, Bernardini said, collapsed as complaints from clients mounted and internal pressure grew to bill regardless of whether services were delivered.

“When clients called and said staff never showed up, I was told to bill the hours anyway,” he said. “It just got worse and worse.”

Bernardini’s allegations have sparked outrage in conservative circles across Maine, with Republican lawmakers demanding investigations into what they say is systemic abuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programs.

State Sen. Matt Harrington, a Republican, said the situation represents a serious failure of oversight by Democratic leadership.

“I demanded a full investigation when I first heard about this welfare fraud scandal,” Harrington told NewsNation. “The Mills administration has neglected obvious and credible reports of Somali-linked systemic fraud in the MaineCare system.”

“This is an outrageous betrayal of Maine taxpayers,” he added.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ office and MaineCare administrators did not respond to requests for comment.

The controversy has also become a flashpoint in Maine’s upcoming gubernatorial race, as Democrats seek to replace Mills while Republicans point to alleged corruption and mismanagement under her watch.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgely recently raised the issue in an op-ed, warning voters about what he called a “Somali-linked welfare fraud scandal” draining public resources.

Gateway Community Services operates under MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program that provides healthcare to elderly, disabled, and low-income residents.

Another former Gateway employee, who requested anonymity, told NewsNation they personally witnessed falsified records and manipulated timecards.

“I saw services being billed that were never provided,” the former employee said. “Times were being altered to make it look legitimate.”

Gateway was founded by Abdullahi Ali, a Somali-American businessman who last year ran for president of Jubaland, a regional government in southern Somalia, while still overseeing the company.

Ali declined multiple interview requests but issued a statement defending himself and accusing conservative outlets of spreading false narratives.

“I am proud Somali-American,” Ali wrote. “America is a nation of laws—you cannot change facts by fabricating false stories.”

State records show Gateway was already on the radar of investigators years before Bernardini came forward.

In March 2022, MaineCare’s Program Integrity Unit issued Gateway a notice of violation, citing improper billing and estimating nearly $1 million in overpayments, later revised to $776,000.

The violations included missing documentation, inconsistent billing times, and unsigned service records.

Bernardini alleges the misconduct escalated dramatically during the COVID pandemic, when federal relief money flooded the system.

He said Gateway received large sums through the Paycheck Protection Program while simultaneously issuing bonuses to short-term employees who never worked with clients.

“People were getting $2,000 bonuses after two weeks on the job,” Bernardini said. “No client work. No hours. Just free money.”

Records obtained by Maine Wire show Gateway received $28.8 million in MaineCare payments between 2019 and 2024, including $4.1 million last year alone.

Bernardini sought whistleblower protections in April 2024 by contacting the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

In emails shared with NewsNation, he warned of potential fraud, waste, and outright theft.

DHS declined jurisdiction and directed him to state authorities.

Bernardini then submitted a tip to the Maine State Auditor, later assisting with audit inquiries before Gateway terminated his position in April 2025.

Months later, the auditor’s office asked whether he had contacted federal agencies such as the FBI.

Bernardini has since relocated to Florida but says Maine officials owe taxpayers answers.

“I knew this would blow up eventually,” he said. “I just wish I had spoken up sooner.”

BREAKING: Anna Paulina Luna Claims The Biden DOJ DESTROYED…

Representative Anna Paulina Luna has leveled explosive information against the Biden Department of Justice, claiming that critical materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have been deliberately destroyed.

Luna, who chairs a congressional task force focused on federal transparency, has stated unequivocally that she possesses evidence implicating high-ranking officials in the DOJ.

She introduced legislation titled the SHRED Act, aimed at imposing severe penalties on government agents who destroy or conceal federal records. The proposed bill calls for 20 years to life in prison for anyone caught eliminating evidence in cases of national significance.

“Even if they are conducting a criminal investigation, you should probably pick up the phone and call us,” Luna told Fox News. “We have been more than patient.”

These developments come amid growing conservative suspicion that the Biden administration has no interest in unmasking Epstein’s full network. The notion that key records could be gone forever only intensifies fears that justice is being buried under a bureaucratic rug.

Luna’s office has reportedly sent multiple requests to the Department of Justice demanding clarity on the handling of Epstein-related materials. So far, those inquiries have been met with either vague responses or complete silence.

The congresswoman did not mince words in her public statements, suggesting that the DOJ’s behavior constitutes a deliberate act of obstruction. If true, such actions could violate federal law and trigger an entirely new legal battle.

“The Biden DOJ has obstructed Congress, ignored subpoenas, and now appears to have destroyed critical evidence,” Luna said. “This is corruption at the highest level.”

Critics argue that this is yet another example of double standards in Washington. “Had this been a Republican-led DOJ accused of destroying documents in a child sex trafficking case, the media would be apoplectic,” one conservative commentator noted.

For years, the Epstein case has symbolized the deep rot within America’s elite circles. The financier’s suspicious death in prison and the subsequent lack of high-profile indictments have fueled accusations of a widespread cover-up.

Now, Luna’s allegations breathe new life into those concerns. If records were indeed destroyed, the implications are profound. It would mean that the DOJ, under Biden, actively shielded criminals from justice.

What’s more troubling is that these destroyed materials could have named prominent individuals—politicians, celebrities, and global financiers—who participated in or enabled Epstein’s crimes.

In this context, Luna’s SHRED Act isn’t just legislative symbolism. It is a clarion call for accountability in an era marked by elite impunity. Her bill seeks to ensure that future officials think twice before erasing truth from the historical record.

Despite Luna’s repeated calls for transparency, there has been no formal response from Attorney General Merrick Garland. The silence speaks volumes to many who believe the DOJ is stonewalling on purpose.

Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers have rallied behind Luna. A growing number of Republicans in the House and Senate are voicing support for investigations into the DOJ’s handling of Epstein evidence.

Some have even floated the idea of appointing a special counsel to probe the matter independently. Given the stakes, such a move may be the only path forward to restore public confidence.

This latest scandal further erodes the credibility of an already battered Department of Justice. From the Hunter Biden laptop fiasco to the political targeting of conservatives, the agency has been repeatedly accused of partisanship.

Now, with Epstein documents allegedly destroyed, the DOJ’s credibility is in tatters. Public trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild.

The American people deserve the truth. And if Luna’s allegations are accurate, they deserve justice, no matter how high the guilty parties sit.