Democrat linked to "suspicious money movement" scandal: James Comer

In late 2025 and early 2026, Maine State Representative Deqa Dhalac, a Democrat, emerged as a person of interest in a federal investigation into large-scale social-services fraud. The probe, which initially focused on Somali-run childcare centers in Minnesota, expanded to Maine-based Gateway Community Services, where Dhalac previously served as assistant executive director.

Representative James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, named Dhalac in a December 2025 letter to the U.S. Treasury, requesting bank records and information regarding "suspicious money movement" linked to the organization.

The allegations against Gateway involve claims from a whistleblower who alleged the nonprofit defrauded Maine’s Medicaid program, MaineCare, by falsifying billing records. According to these claims, electronic monitoring systems were manipulated to bill the state for home visits that never actually occurred.

In response to these "credible allegations of fraud," state authorities reportedly halted payments to Gateway in early January 2026 as the investigation deepened.

Representative Dhalac has vigorously denied any involvement in illegal activities, noting that she worked for the nonprofit for less than a year and held no role in its billing or financial practices.

She has characterized the accusations as "unequivocally false" and "politically motivated," while expressing her support for holding anyone who misuses public funds accountable.

Despite her defense, Maine Republican leaders have called for her removal from the state's budget-writing committee to avoid potential conflicts of interest while the House Oversight Committee investigation continues. No criminal charges have been filed against Dhalac as of January 1, 2026.