Minnesota government workers blame Walz for ‘massive fraud’ amid allegations against Somali community
In a startling development, over 400 employees of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) have publicly accused Governor Tim Walz of negligence in addressing widespread fraud within the agency and retaliating against whistleblowers who reported these issues. The Minnesota DHS Employees account on X (formerly Twitter) asserted that Walz is “100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota,” claiming that their warnings about fraudulent activities were met with hostility rather than action. They allege a systematic campaign by Walz to undermine whistleblowers through monitoring and intimidation, while also disempowering the Office of the Legislative Auditor, which led to a disregard for audit findings by state agencies.
This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a significant federal investigation into one of the largest COVID-era fraud cases in the nation. The Justice Department has recently charged the 78th individual in the Feeding Our Future scheme, which reportedly involved over $250 million in misappropriated funds from a federally-funded child nutrition program, with many of the accused linked to Minnesota’s Somali community. Initially perceived as isolated incidents, these fraud schemes have expanded in scope, revealing a troubling pattern of individuals creating fictitious companies to bill the state for non-existent social services. Reports also suggest that some of the misappropriated funds may have been funneled to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, although no direct links have been established in the ongoing federal cases.
In response to these allegations, Governor Walz acknowledged the gravity of the situation at a recent press conference, emphasizing that fraud undermines public trust and the essential services that improve citizens’ lives. He reiterated his commitment to prosecuting those involved, asserting, “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.” During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Walz faced questions about his accountability in preventing the fraud, to which he responded by highlighting the broader context of Minnesota’s generosity and prosperity attracting criminal activity. This situation has not only drawn scrutiny on Walz’s administration but has also sparked political discourse, with figures like Donald Trump calling for the termination of temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota, linking it to the alleged fraudulent activities. As the investigation continues, the implications for state governance and community relations remain significant, raising concerns about accountability and the integrity of public programs.
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.
FOOD-STAMP FRAUD NUMBERS EXPOSE WHICH STATES ARE DRAINING THE MOST TAXPAYER DOLLARS
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.
Walz faced a question about the situation on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, when host Kristen Welker
pressed him
on the allegations and asked him if he takes responsibility for failing to stop the fraud in his state.
“Well, certainly, I take responsibility for putting people in jail,” the governor responded.
“I will note, it’s not just Somalis. Minnesota is a generous state. Minnesota is a prosperous state, a well-run state. We’re AAA-bond rated. But that attracts criminals. Those people are going to jail. We’re doing everything we can. But to demonize an entire community on the actions of a few, it’s lazy,” he said.
Trump said in a Nov. 21 Truth Social post that he
would be terminating
the temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota, citing “fraudulent money laundering activity.”
“Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!” he wrote.
