{"id":2569768,"date":"2026-02-13T14:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T19:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/keith-ellisons-strategy-was-to-deny-during-senate-hearing-byron-york\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T14:50:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T19:50:36","slug":"keith-ellisons-strategy-was-to-deny-during-senate-hearing-byron-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/keith-ellisons-strategy-was-to-deny-during-senate-hearing-byron-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Keith Ellison&#8217;s strategy was to &#8216;deny&#8217; during Senate hearing: Byron York"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/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%2Fkeith-ellisons-strategy-was-to-deny-during-senate-hearing-byron-york%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=2569768&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>Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York interpreted Keith Ellison\u2019s Senate Homeland Security and governmental Affairs Commitee hearing as highlighting several vulnerabilities tied to Minnesota\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >multi-billion-dollar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-gov-tate-reeves-leading-brandon-presley-in-mississippis-governor-race-poll\/\" title=\"Republican Gov. Tate Reeves ahead of Brandon Presley in Mississippi&#039;s governor race: Poll\">welfare fraud scandal<\/a><\/a> and concerns about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-nominate-texas-sheriff-to-lead-ice\/\" title=\"Biden to Nominate Texas Sheriff to Lead ICE\">federal immigration enforcement<\/a>. York described Ellison\u2019s approach as one of denial\u2014\u201cdeny, deny, deny\u201d\u2014during questioning about Minnesota\u2019s oversight. He pointed to moments such as Sen. Ron Johnson\u2019s remark that Ellison had praised protesters who demonstrated against ICE, and noted that ellison had met with and accepted campaign donations from some of the actors implicated in the fraud scheme, with some visiting Ellison\u2019s office to complain about the investigation. York emphasized that much of the fraud investigation is being conducted by federal prosecutors, framing Ellison\u2019s own story as controversial but not the central issue. He added that Ellison appeared resolute to say little during the hearing.The article also references a video and lists recommended stories.  <\/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\">Keith Ellison&rsquo;s strategy was to &lsquo;deny&rsquo; during Senate hearing: Byron York<\/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_2503588\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> chief political correspondent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/byron-york\/\">Byron York<\/a> said Minnesota Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/keith-ellison\/\">Keith Ellison<\/a> came into his Senate hearing with &ldquo;real vulnerabilities&rdquo; ranging from the state&rsquo;s welfare <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota-fraud\/\">fraud scandal<\/a> to federal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>Ellison testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday about <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a> oversight.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4457621\/wes-moore-skip-governor-meeting-trump-debacle\/\">Wes Moore to skip national governors&#8217; White House meeting after Trump dinner debacle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4455990\/aoc-dodges-2028-munich-security-conference\/\">AOC dodges on 2028 White House run at Munich Security Conference<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4457572\/trump-says-involved-dhs-funding-talks\/\">Trump says he&#8217;ll be personally involved in DHS funding talks<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Ellison &ldquo;came in with a lot of vulnerabilities and his strategy was deny, deny, deny,&rdquo; York said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3375982&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=d7066d101ba45e7899787efd432de8ac\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>York pointed out some key moments of Ellison&rsquo;s testimony that stood out to him, including Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-johnson\/\">Ron Johnson<\/a> (R-WI) saying Ellison encouraged the protesters who were demonstrating against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> in Minnesota.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Indeed, Ellison had praised the protesters for &lsquo;putting their bodies on the line,&rsquo;&rdquo; York said.<\/p>\n<p>York also said Ellison&rsquo;s hearing highlighted that the Minnesota attorney general had &ldquo;met with&rdquo; and &ldquo;accepted&rdquo; campaign donations from some of the &ldquo;worst actors&rdquo; in the fraud scandal.<\/p>\n<p>York said the &ldquo;problem&rdquo; with Ellison is that it appears he &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-nominates-jared-kushners-father-as-french-ambassador-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump nominates Jared Kushner\u2019s father as French ambassador - Washington Examiner\">worked closely&#038;rdquo<\/a>; with these actors in the fraud scheme, and some of them even came to Ellison&rsquo;s office to complain about the investigation.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4456034\/josh-hawley-minnesota-attorney-general-keith-ellison-indicted-fraud-reports\/\"><strong>HAWLEY CALLS ON MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BE INDICTED OVER FRAUD REPORTS: &lsquo;YOU OUGHT TO BE IN JAIL&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A lot of the investigation of that fraud scandal, which is in the billions of dollars in Minnesota, is being done by federal prosecutors, so it&rsquo;s not actually Keith Ellison&rsquo;s story,&rdquo; York said. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s really been a controversial part of his time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Right now [Ellison] comes to Capitol Hill determined to not say a thing,&rdquo; York added.<\/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>York: Ellison denied; vulnerable over fraud immigration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3984,"featured_media":2569769,"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\/2026\/02\/AP26043531927846.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[37928,73772,71525,32171,48508],"class_list":["post-2569768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-byron-york","tag-denial-strategy","tag-keith-ellison","tag-political-commentary","tag-senate-hearing"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26043531927846.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569768","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\/3984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569768"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2569772,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569768\/revisions\/2569772"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2569769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}