When I shared my investigative findings into the Tim Walz fraud scandal with the House Oversight Committee, I was met with a stunning refusal by congressional Democrats to accept the facts. Members of “The Squad,” such as Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), were not interested in the truth, but rather in Trump-bashing, name-calling, and outlandish claims that exposing fraud was racist and Islamophobic. They wanted viral moments for cable news, while I wanted to protect taxpayers and vulnerable citizens.
My message to the Oversight Committee was clear: This grandstanding nonsense is exactly what Minnesotans hate about Washington, D.C.
Those partisan and hyperbolic insults are what got us into this mess. For years, Democratic leadership has minimized whistleblower reports and allowed fraud to grow. The Walz administration retaliated against those who spoke up by claiming they were racist or Islamophobic. Why? To protect their political base at the expense of all Minnesotans.
But crime is crime, no matter who is committing it.
It is true that most of the fraud is in the Somali community, but it is also true that some of our best whistleblowers have been from the Somali community. Democrats refuse to acknowledge the truth, and that has enabled criminals to steal billions and hurt our vulnerable citizens.
As Chairwoman of the Fraud Prevention Committee in Minnesota, I’ve been at the tip of the spear in uncovering the massive fraud that occurred under Walz. Our committee has given whistleblowers a place to be heard, exposed the most egregious fraud, and demanded accountability from those in power.
Here are the results and hard truths from my congressional testimony that struck a nerve with Walz, Keith Ellison, and Democrats in Congress:
First, we are unearthing staggering amounts of fraud.
As far back as 2014, there were credible whistleblower reports of millions in day care fraud. The fraud intensified starting in 2019, as Walz and Minnesota Democrats allowed fraud to explode. There’s been more than $300 million stolen in the Feeding Our Future child nutrition program scandal, and prosecutions have revealed that half of those indicted also ran other Medicaid-funded programs.
Yet, despite this being publicly reported in 2023, Walz and his agencies have done nothing to stop those defendants from getting additional state money. We have now found fraud in multiple Medicaid programs, including autism centers, sober homes, non-emergency medical transportation, integrated community supports, and housing stabilization. Just last month, our committee uncovered credible allegations of fraud in two new areas: adult day services and assisted living. Federal prosecutors estimate the fraud could be an astronomical $9 billion.
Second, in the face of mounting reports and literal criminal indictments and convictions, the Walz administration has repeatedly and publicly denied or downplayed the fraud.
Walz’s commissioner of DHS Jodi Harpstead, who’d been on the job for almost six years, said in January of 2025, “There’s a lot of rumors of fraud more than there is actual fraud.”
This cavalier attitude reflected the view of the entire Walz administration, which has been gaslighting Minnesotans on the scale of the fraud problem for years. In the face of this refusal to act, we knew we had to take accountability and oversight into our own hands. We launched the Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, opened a portal for whistleblowers, held 15 hearings, and turned over credible allegations of fraud to federal prosecutors.
The third point I made to Congress was that other states should learn from the failures of the Walz administration to find and stop fraud. The road map to stop fraud starts with culture. Fraud flourishes when leaders ignore it, and criminals see they can get away with it. Next, fraud happens when basic internal controls are not followed. Third, states have to look at the interconnected web of providers with businesses in multiple program areas.
Finally, it is important to say what is true and to stand up against fake allegations of racism or Islamophobia.
I was grateful to bring my findings before Congress, and there is still work to be done to further uncover fraud and hold those criminals accountable. But now is the time to get results. Because of our work, federal partners and prosecutors are seeking justice. We will pressure Walz to stop the flow of state money to indicted fraudsters and hold agencies accountable for turning a blind eye to rampant fraud.
THE HUMAN COST OF THE MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
Vulnerable citizens are hurt when leaders refuse to acknowledge the truth, enable criminals, and allow fraud to flourish. We will not allow this to continue. Accountability and justice have arrived.
Kristin Robbins is the Chairwoman of the Minnesota Fraud Prevention Committee.
