{"id":2527399,"date":"2025-12-31T13:56:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T18:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-oversight-seeks-answers-on-minnesota-fraud-scheme-with-hearings\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T13:59:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T18:59:14","slug":"house-oversight-seeks-answers-on-minnesota-fraud-scheme-with-hearings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-oversight-seeks-answers-on-minnesota-fraud-scheme-with-hearings\/","title":{"rendered":"House Oversight seeks answers on Minnesota fraud scheme with hearings"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-oversight-seeks-answers-on-minnesota-fraud-scheme-with-hearings%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2527399&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>House Oversight committee Chair James Comer (R\u2011KY) announced the first congressional hearings into an alleged fraud scheme in Minnesota that targeted multiple state social\u2011services programs. The initial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7 and will feature testimony from Minnesota Republican state Reps. Kristin Robbins, Walter Hudson, and Marion Rarick; Comer has invited Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify on feb. 10. The committee has expanded its probe, conducting transcribed interviews with state officials, requesting documents and suspicious\u2011activity reports, and seeking Justice Department briefings. Federal prosecutors say the scheme &#8211; in which many of those charged are Somali immigrants &#8211; may have diverted billions in taxpayer funds from <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >programs including pandemic child\u2011food assistance<\/a>, homelessness services, and autism therapy. The matter drew wider attention after reporting alleged funds were funneled to al Shabaab and a viral YouTube video; president Trump responded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-immigration-officials-detained-5000-migrants-from-ukraine-in-march\/\" title=\"U.S. Immigration Officials Detained 5,000 Migrants From Ukraine in March\">ending temporary protected status<\/a> for Somalis in Minnesota, freezing child\u2011care payments, and demanding audits of daycare centers. Gov. Walz pushed back, calling the moves politicized and saying his administration is already working to crack down on fraud while pledging a state audit.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">House Oversight seeks answers on Minnesota Somali fraud scheme with first hearings<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2458741\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-oversight-committee\/\">House Oversight<\/a>&nbsp;Chairman&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comer\/\">James Comer<\/a>&nbsp;(R-KY) announced the first congressional hearing into the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota-fraud\/\">Minnesota fraud scandal<\/a> and invited Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and state Attorney General Keith Ellison to participate at a later date.<\/p>\n<p>The first hearing, scheduled for Jan. 7, will include testimony from state Reps. Kristin Robbins, Walter Hudson, and Marion Rarick, all of whom are Republicans. Comer has invited Walz and Ellison to testify on Feb. 10.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4375466\/lauren-boebert-trump-veto-colorado-pipeline-epstein-retaliation\/\">Boebert suggests Trump vetoed Colorado water pipeline bill as &#8216;retaliation&#8217; for Epstein discharge petition<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4364944\/democrats-split-merits-jan-6-committee-return-spotlight\/\">Democrats split on merits of Jan. 6 committee&#8217;s return to spotlight<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4364300\/democrats-reconvene-house-jan-6-committee\/\">Democrats to reconvene House Jan. 6 committee on fifth anniversary of Capitol riot<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Comer&rsquo;s announcement comes after the committee expanded its investigation, calling on state officials to testify in closed-door, transcribed interviews, while also requesting suspicious activity reports from Treasury Secretary&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/scott-bessent\/\">Scott Bessent<\/a>, along with a staff-level briefing from the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In addition to conducting transcribed interviews with Minnesota state officials, the House Oversight Committee will hold hearings on fraud in Minnesota&rsquo;s social services programs to expose failures, identify solutions, and deliver accountability,&rdquo;  Comer said in a statement. &ldquo;Next week, we will hear from Minnesota state lawmakers who sounded the alarm on this fraud&mdash;and whose warnings were ignored by the Walz administration.&nbsp;This misconduct cannot be swept aside, and Congress will not stop until taxpayers get the answers and accountability they deserve.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The alleged fraud, of which the majority of those charged are Somali immigrants, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-oversight-wants-answers-on-minnesota-somali-fraud\/\" title=\"House Oversight wants answers on ... Somali ...\">targeted multiple government social services programs<\/a> in Minnesota, including one intended to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic under Walz&rsquo;s leadership, with federal prosecutors saying billions of taxpayer dollars could have been stolen. Other programs in the state meant to support providers in assisting people at risk of homelessness, and another meant to provide therapy for autistic children, were also purportedly defrauded.<\/p>\n<p>The committee launched its investigation into the matter earlier this month, as Comer called on Walz and Ellison to provide any documents in relation to the fraud scandal that occurred in the state.<\/p>\n<p>The issue heated up last month when President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he was terminating temporary protected status for Somalis in the state. The president&rsquo;s move came after a&nbsp;<em>City Journal&nbsp;<\/em>report&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.city-journal.org\/article\/minnesota-welfare-fraud-somalia-al-shabaab?utm_source=virtuous&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cjdaily\">alleged millions<\/a>&nbsp;of Minnesota taxpayer dollars were&nbsp;stolen&nbsp;in the fraud scheme and were funneled to the Somali-based al Shabaab terrorist group. Minnesota has the highest Somali population of any state in the United States. The scandal has subsequently taken on a life of its own <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=r8AulCA1aOQ\">thanks to a video by YouTuber Nick Shirley<\/a>, which went viral.<\/p>\n<p>The president announced on Tuesday that he froze child care funds to Minnesota and demanded an audit of some day care centers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota,&rdquo; Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O&rsquo;Neill wrote on X. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Walz&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Tim_Walz\">responded to O&rsquo;Neill<\/a>&nbsp;and pushed back, s<\/span>aying, &ldquo;This is Trump&rsquo;s long game. We&rsquo;ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It&rsquo;s a serious issue &ndash; but this has been his plan all along. He&rsquo;s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4364124\/trump-holds-out-key-texas-senate-endorsement\/\">TRUMP HOLDS OUT ON GIVING CORNYN KEY TEXAS SENATE ENDORSEMENT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Democrats, including the governor, have criticized the administration&rsquo;s illegal immigration&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3905016\/homan-confirms-ice-surge-coming-to-twin-cities-following-somali-fraud-investigation\/\">crackdown<\/a>&nbsp;and Trump&rsquo;s move to&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3895787\/trump-terminating-temporary-protected-status-somalis-minnesota\/\">terminate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-dhs-chief-to-cubans-hoping-to-make-sea-voyage-to-u-s-you-will-not-enter-the-united-states\/\" title=\"Biden DHS Chief To Cubans Hoping To Make Sea Voyage To U.S.: \u2018You Will Not Enter The United States\u2019\">temporary protected status&#038;nbsp<\/a>;<\/a>of Somalis living in Minnesota. Walz pledged that an audit will be conducted by late January to provide a better understanding, while adding that his administration is taking aggressive action to prevent further fraud.<\/p>\n<p>Walz responded to Comer&rsquo;s invite, telling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BillMelugin_\/status\/2006401742926213193\">Fox News<\/a>, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re always happy to work with Congress, though this committee has a track record of holding circus hearings that have nothing to do with the issue at hand.&nbsp;While the Governor has been working to ensure fraudsters go to prison, the President has been selling pardons to let them out.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House Oversight probes Minnesota Somali fraud case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3691,"featured_media":2527400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-collage-b6syfww97-1764793705278-e1764796870984.jpg?1767182026&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[49008,42812,34573,5698],"class_list":["post-2527399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-congressional-hearings","tag-fraud-investigation","tag-house-oversight-committee","tag-minnesota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-collage-b6syfww97-1764793705278-e1764796870984.jpg?1767182026&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2527399"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2527403,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527399\/revisions\/2527403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2527400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2527399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2527399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2527399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}