Minnesota government workers blame Walz for ‘massive fraud’ amid allegations against Somali community
In a striking turn of events, over 400 employees from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) have publicly accused Governor Tim Walz of negligence in addressing significant fraud concerns within the department and retaliating against those who reported wrongdoing. The allegations surfaced through a collective statement on social media platform X, wherein the group, comprising more than 480 current DHS staff members, claimed that Walz is “100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota.” They expressed their frustration at having alerted the governor about fraudulent activities, only to face retaliation instead of support. The employees allege that Walz employed tactics such as monitoring, intimidation, and discrediting whistleblower reports, effectively silencing those who sought to expose corruption. Additionally, they criticized Walz for undermining the Office of the Legislative Auditor, which they say has led to agencies ignoring critical audit findings and recommendations.
These allegations come at a time when federal prosecutors are investigating one of the largest COVID-era fraud schemes in the nation, involving over $250 million misappropriated from a federally-funded child nutrition program. The Justice Department recently announced new charges against the 78th defendant in the “Feeding Our Future” fraud case, which has already resulted in more than 50 convictions. Many of those implicated are reportedly from Minnesota’s Somali community, and what began as a seemingly isolated incident has escalated into a broader crisis, raising alarms among state and federal officials. Reports suggest that numerous fraudulent schemes have emerged, with individuals allegedly establishing companies that billed the state for services that were never rendered. Furthermore, a controversial report from the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal has raised concerns that some of the misappropriated funds may have been funneled to the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab, although there are currently no federal charges linking these fraud cases to terrorism.
In response to the growing scandal, Governor Walz addressed the issue at a recent press conference, emphasizing the detrimental impact of fraud on public trust and essential government programs. He stated, “If you’re committing fraud, no matter where you come from, what you look like, what you believe, you are going to go to jail.” His remarks underline the seriousness with which his administration intends to tackle these fraudulent activities, even as the accusations from DHS employees raise questions about his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability. As the investigation unfolds, both state employees and the public are left grappling with the implications of these allegations on Minnesota’s social services and the integrity of its leadership.
More than 400 employees of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) accused Gov.
Tim Walz
of failing to act on widespread fraud warnings and retaliating against whistleblowers.
The Minnesota Department of Human Service Employees account, which says it consists of more than 480 current staff members at the Minnesota DHS, wrote on X that Walz is “100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota.”
“We let Tim Walz know of fraud early on, hoping for a partnership in stopping fraud but no, we got the opposite response. Tim Walz systematically retaliated against whistleblowers using monitoring, threats, repression, and did his best to discredit fraud reports,” the group claimed. “In addition to retaliating against whistleblower[s], Tim Walz disempowered the Office of the Legislative Auditor, allowing agencies to disregard their audit findings and guidance.”
Walz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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The group’s claims come as federal prosecutors continue to unravel one of the nation’s largest
COVID-era
fraud cases.
The
Justice Department
announced new charges last week against the 78th defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which prosecutors say involved more than $250 million in stolen funds from a federally-funded child nutrition program and has already resulted in over 50 convictions. Many of the individuals charged come from Minnesota’s Somali community.
The New York Times reported that what initially appeared to many Minnesotans as an isolated case of pandemic-era fraud has broadened into a much wider concern for state and federal officials.
The Times reported
that over the past five years, according to law enforcement authorities, several fraud schemes proliferated in parts of Minnesota’s Somali community. A number of individuals allegedly created companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never delivered.
MINNESOTA TAXPAYER DOLLARS FUNNELED TO AL-SHABAAB TERROR GROUP, REPORT ALLEGES
The Manhattan Institute’s City Journal also
alleged in a report
, citing unnamed federal counterterrorism sources, that some stolen funds were transferred to Somalia and may have ended up with the terror group Al-Shabaab, though none of the federal charges in the fraud cases include any link to terrorism.
Walz addressed the fraud at a press conference last week, saying it “undermines trust in government,” and “undermines programs that are absolutely critical in improving quality of life.”
“If you’re committing fraud, no matter where you come from, what you look like, what you believe, you are going to go to jail,” Walz said.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
