Battenfeld: Marty Walsh choice for VP under fire in children’s food scandal
In a scandal that has rocked Minnesota’s social service programs, allegations of extensive fraud involving Somali immigrants have emerged, with federal prosecutors charging dozens of individuals linked to a staggering $1 billion theft. Central to the controversy is the state’s food nutrition program for children, which has been overseen by Governor Tim Walz, a figure with political ties to former Boston Mayor and U.S. Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh. Walsh, who played a role in vetting potential vice presidential candidates for Kamala Harris, is now facing scrutiny as Walz’s administration is accused of overlooking numerous warning signs regarding the misuse of funds, largely due to the political support he received from the Somali community. This situation has drawn national attention, especially as it unfolds against the backdrop of a politically charged environment, with former President Donald Trump seizing the opportunity to criticize both Walz and the Somali immigrant population in Minnesota.
The fallout from this scandal is significant, with reports indicating that fraud has deeply infiltrated pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora, where individuals reportedly established companies that billed the state for millions in services that were never rendered. The New York Times highlighted that 59 individuals have been convicted in connection with these schemes, which began as early as 2022, when funds were reimbursed for nonexistent meals. Critics of Walz argue that his administration’s failure to act on red flags was motivated by a fear of alienating a community that has historically supported him. This has led to a growing divide between immigrants and long-time residents, as the integrity of Minnesota’s social service programs comes into question. Federal prosecutor Joseph H. Thompson emphasized the threat this fraud poses to the state’s way of life, stating, “No one will support these programs if they continue to be riddled with fraud.”
As the investigation unfolds, questions remain regarding the extent of the corruption and the role of prominent figures, including U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, whose former aide has already pleaded guilty to charges related to the fraud. While some Somali Americans express concern over the impact of these allegations on their community’s reputation, the scandal raises broader issues about accountability and governance within state programs designed to support vulnerable populations. As Minnesota grapples with the implications of this scandal, it serves as a reminder of the critical need for oversight in social service programs, particularly those that serve immigrant communities.
The man Marty Walsh vetted for vice president is engulfed in scandal in his home state of Minnesota, where Somali immigrants are accused of a massive ripoff of the state’s social service programs to the tune of $1 billion.
Dozens of people have been charged by federal prosecutors with fraud in connection with the stolen funds, mostly from a food nutrition program for children overseen by Governor and former Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz.
Walz’s administration reportedly overlooked numerous red flags about the program because the Somali community supported him politically.
Walz, handpicked by Walsh, who was part of the Democratic ticket’s vetting process, would be the vice president if Kamala Harris had defeated Donald Trump.
Walsh, the former Boston mayor and Labor Secretary, is the highly paid executive director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association but had close political connections to Kamala Harris while Harris was looking for a running mate.
“You can see why she chose (Walz),” Walsh told WBUR in an interview. “He’s run a state. He’s been in Congress. He’s a veteran. He did a lot of what American people are looking for.”
The American people averted that Democratic disaster of a ticket but Minnesota is now dealing with the incompetence and possible corruption of Walz’s administration.
Walz over the weekend blasted Trump for tying the scandal to the Somali migration to Minnesota. The state is home to the largest Somali community in the country, a total of more than 100,000, including U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.
In the wake of the scandal, the Trump administration on Friday ended legal protections for Somali migrants in The Gopher State.
“As far as demonizing our Somali community, maybe he could help us on some things,” Walz said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Demonizing an entire community, folks who are in the professions, educators, artists, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, they bring the diversity and the energy to a place like Minnesota.”
Trump posted on Thanksgiving that Somali migrants “are taking over this once great state of Minnesota” and accused Walz of incompetence.
And in a scathing post on X, employees of Minnesota’s Department of Health Services blasted Walz as dishonest and incompetent, saying he “has never taken any accountability for his role in fraud.”
The New York Times, in a lengthy expose, reported that “fraud took deep root in pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora as scores of individuals made small fortunes by setting up companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never provided.”
A total of 59 people have been convicted in the schemes to steal the safety net programs, prosecutors say.
Imagine the outrage of Massachusetts residents if these crimes had happened under the watch of Gov. Maura Healey.
But Walz, whose military service came under scrutiny during the Harris campaign, has denied any knowledge of the plot that was undertaken mostly by Somali migrants whom he has lauded as pillars of the community.
The corruption scheme could widen in the coming months.
A good question is what did Omar know about these stolen public funds, which were supposed to benefit poor children during the COVID epidemic? A former aide to Omar has already pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the federal child nutrition program.
Some Somali Americans are concerned that the scandal has damaged the reputation of their community, but critics of Walz say he let the scandal go on because he was afraid of alienating Somalis who have been supportive of him.
Minnesota has attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants mostly because of the state’s generous “Scandinavian-modeled” social service programs, according to the Times.
The schemes began with the food nutrition program as far back as 2022, when state agencies reimbursed a nonprofit organization for thousands of “nonexistent” meals. In reality most of the funds went toward paying for cars, houses and real estate projects, the Times reported.
Somali American citizens also are accused of ripping off a program to provide therapy for autistic children by funneling kickback money to parents.
The depth of the scandal, which is just hitting Minnesota residents, has pitted immigrants against other longtime residents.
“No one will support these programs if they continue to be riddled with fraud,” federal prosecutor Joseph H. Thompson told the Times. “We’re losing our way of life in Minnesota in a very real way.”
Former Boston Mayor and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald, File)
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