A recent report from the House Oversight Committee has raised serious allegations against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. The report accuses them of neglecting to prevent widespread fraud in taxpayer-funded social programs, despite receiving multiple warnings over the years.

Fraud Concerns Ignored

The 205-page document, titled “The Cost of Doing Nothing: How Tim Walz And Keith Ellison Fueled Minnesota’s Fraud Explosion,” claims that senior officials in Minnesota were aware of fraud concerns as early as 2019. These concerns were related to programs managed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Education.

The report highlights that state agencies had the authority to halt payments to suspected fraudulent providers but failed to do so. This inaction potentially led to the loss or risk of $300 million in federal child nutrition funds and up to $9 billion in Medicaid-related funds.

Whistleblower Allegations

The report also sheds light on the treatment of whistleblowers within the state. It alleges that nearly 30 whistleblowers, most of whom are current employees in the Walz administration, faced retaliation for raising fraud concerns. These employees reportedly experienced being ignored, sidelined, and even threatened with surveillance.

These findings echo previous allegations by a group representing over 480 Minnesota DHS employees, who accused Walz of ignoring fraud warnings and retaliating against staff who raised concerns.

Federal Review and Recommendations

In response to these findings, House Committee Chairman James Comer has urged the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President JD Vance, to conduct a comprehensive review of Minnesota’s social services programs. The report recommends stronger federal safeguards for state-administered programs receiving federal funds.

Governor Walz acknowledged that fraud occurred during his administration but emphasized that some issues may have predated his tenure. Attorney General Ellison has called for a focus on addressing underlying problems rather than assigning blame.

The report concludes that the failures in oversight allowed criminal schemes to flourish, diverting funds away from vulnerable populations. Federal authorities have already charged 15 defendants in connection with over $90 million in fraud across Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded programs.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.