Commentary
I’m back on one of my favorite topics again – accountability. This time it centers on fraud in the state of Minnesota, where those in leadership are all in denial.
However, if you haven’t heard, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a report, “The Cost of Doing Nothing: How Tim Walz ad Keith Ellison Fueled Minnesota’s Fraud Explosion,
They found that senior officials in Minnesota state government, including Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison, were aware of widespread fraud in federally funded social services programs for years, possessed the legal and procedural authority to stop payments and ban fraudulent providers from participating in these programs, but repeatedly failed to act.
As a result, billions of American taxpayer dollars were potentially paid to fraudulent actors. These fraudulently obtained funds likely funded international terrorist networks among other bad actors, while vulnerable populations were harmed and whistleblowers were ignored, sidelined, and retaliated against.
According to the report, “testimony and documents obtained to date establish a consistent pattern: fraud warnings were elevated to the most senior levels of the Minnesota state government, meaningful corrective action was delayed or avoided, and payments continued long after credible signs of fraud emerged.”
Walz and Ellison claimed to know very little about the widespread fraud occurring since 2019, that allowed an estimated $300 million in federal child nutrition funds and potentially $9 billion in Medicaid-related funds to be lost.
“Instead of trying to stop widespread fraud,” the report states, “Governor Walz’s administration retaliated against employees who tried to raise concerns, going to great lengths to keep them quiet.”
The Committee’s findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of Minnesota’s governance and oversight of federal funds. The failure to act decisively in the face of known fraud allowed criminal schemes to flourish and diverted resources away from eligible recipients: the vulnerable populations these programs were intended to serve.
It is imperative, the report states, that President Trump’s Anti-Fraud Task Force, the Department of Justice, and all relevant law enforcement and regulatory agencies perform a thorough review of Minnesota’s social services program reimbursements and enrollment from 2019 to the present. Further, legislative efforts at the federal level are necessary to create new safeguards against this massive and preventable waste, fraud, and abuse of federal dollars by state inaction.
Where’s the Accountability?
Perhaps you have heard about the sentencing of Aimee Bock, 44, the founder and executive director of Feeding our Future, a nonprofit organization that was a sponsor participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. She was sentenced to 41 years in prison. Some 60 others have also been charged with Twin Cities fraud.
“Rather than using taxpayer funds intended to feed vulnerable children, the defendant instead pocketed the money to buy luxury vehicles, residential and commercial real estate in Minnesota, and finance international travel
But What About State Leadership?
While there is no evidence that Walz took part in the fraud, but the wholesale fraud took place on his watch, and he has admitted the buck stops with him. There are those who have said that Governor Walz, with his decision not to seek a third term, is his punishment.
Then there’s Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who has failed to accept any accountability. Asked if she bore any responsibility during two television appearances, on CNN and MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” her response was, “The governor says the buck stops with him,” adding that “more should have been done sooner.”
During a local TV appearance, Flanagan wore a hijab Islamic head covering while shopping to express solidarity with Somalis, who she claims are part of the fabric of the state. She also supports gender-affirming care.
The only penalty in store for her would be a loss to Republican Michelle Tafoya in the race for Tina Smith‘s Senate seat. Tafoya has cited the need for accountability during her campaign.
What About the Attorney General?
Reportedly, AG Ellison is facing new scrutiny over a 2021 audio recording of him meeting with members of the Somali community during which the would-be fraudsters asking Ellison to help them secure more funding. They suggested “the only way that we can protect what we have is by inserting ourselves into the political arena. Putting our votes where it needs to be. But most importantly, putting our dollars in the right place, supporting candidates that will fight for our interests.”
“That’s right,” Ellison responds on the tape. Denying any wrongdoing, Ellison returned donations after they were convicted.
Despite the eight-year cloud of fraud that has hung over Minnesota, with Elison as attorney general, he has the audacity to seek reelection this November, facing opposition from Republican Ron Schutz.
Schutz served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, serving as both a defense lawyer and prosecutor. After leaving the Army, Schutz was a private practice lawyer at a 200-lawyer litigation firm.
He plans to address the massive culture of fraud has taken hold and infested the one-party controlled state government that has cost Minnesota taxpayers billions of dollars.
Klobuchar for Governor?
While the popular Democrat Sen. Any Klobuchar is running for governor, she’s taking heat from her Republican opponent, Lisa Demuth, House Speaker, for not addressing the massive fraud scandal.
Two headlines stand out: “Klobuchar is AWOL on fraud,” and “One thousand Klobuchar press releases, none on fraud.” The first in the Minnesota Star Tribune following a Farmfest debate during which she refused to blame Democrats.
The paper suggested she could have used her powerful position on the Senate Judiciary Committee to join Sen. Josh Howley “who has done great work” in investigating Minnesota fraud and holding Walz and Ellison accountable.
Demuth recognized that Klobuchar didn’t take time to attend the fraud hearing in her state, noting that her ties to Walz are well-known in Minnesota.
“My question is,” said Demuth, “where were you the last 10 years, but absolutely the last eight years?
Now, eight years into the fraud scandal, she has issued a Klobuchar for Governor plan that calls for “immediate action to root out fraud,” under the heading: Accountable. It includes a top-to-bottom audit of state government.
Affordability and Accountability
Have you noticed that the left talks repeatably about “affordability,” but ignores “accountability?” Think about how things just might be more affordable if we had more accountability.
Finally, the Coverage
It was no surprise to see the criticism of reporting by the Minnesota Star Tribune, with accusations of downplaying the scale of alleged schemes and, of course, aligning too closely with the state’s Democrat leadership.
The New York Post’s Miranda Devine, who is always on top of major scandals, labeled the Star Tribune a “Democrat front.” The paper is accused of “twisting facts,” “lying outright,” and called “one of the worst in the country.”
May God continue to bless the people of the United States of America.
