Vice President JD Vance has referred Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Justice Department for a criminal fraud investigation.
The move follows a congressional report accusing state officials of ignoring widespread fraud in federally funded social programs for years.
Oversight Committee Report
The Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a 205-page staff report Monday that details what it describes as systemic oversight failures in Minnesota’s administration of programs including child nutrition assistance and Medicaid.
Titled “The Cost of Doing Nothing: How Tim Walz and Keith Ellison Fueled Minnesota’s Fraud Explosion,” the report alleges that Walz and Ellison were aware of significant fraud risks as early as 2019.
According to the committee, state officials failed to use their authority to stop suspicious payments or remove problematic providers from the programs.
Investigators highlighted the Feeding Our Future scandal, where federal prosecutors secured convictions linked to more than $250 million in stolen child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The report estimates broader fraud exposure in Minnesota’s Medicaid and related programs could reach up to $9 billion.
Whistleblower Retaliation
The congressional findings cite whistleblower testimony claiming state officials retaliated against employees who raised concerns.
This allegedly included hiring private investigators and law firms to silence internal dissent. The report also criticizes the administration for prioritizing concerns about discrimination claims over fraud prevention efforts.
Vance, chairman of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, announced the referral in a post on X and a formal letter to the DOJ’s Fraud Division.
“Minnesota state officials are not above the law,” Vance wrote. He specified that the investigation should examine potential facilitation of fraud, perjury, and intimidation of whistleblowers.
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Walz and Ellison Push Back
Walz and Ellison have rejected the report and referral as politically motivated. A spokesperson for the governor called the document a partisan effort designed to distract from other issues. Ellison labeled it a “political stunt” from the opposing administration.
The governor’s office has pointed to state-level reforms implemented in recent years, including stricter fraud penalties and extended statutes of limitations.
Officials say the administration cooperated with federal investigations into the Feeding Our Future case and conducted its own reviews.
Walz has previously stated that concerns were addressed in coordination with federal authorities once identified.
The Feeding Our Future case involved fraudulent meal claims that were never provided, with proceeds spent on luxury goods and other personal expenses. Multiple defendants have been convicted or pleaded guilty, with lengthy prison sentences issued.
The Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), conducted months of hearings and document reviews before issuing its findings. It sent a letter to Vance requesting a comprehensive review of Minnesota’s social services programs.
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