Minnesota’s Walz, Ellison to testify before Congress

Two top Minnesota officials, Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, will take the congressional hot seat next Wednesday as lawmakers seek to uncover the possible fraudulent use of federal funds by some of the state’s residents.

In December, the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into the money laundering and fraud in Minnesota’s social service programs, uncovered by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota.

Chairman James Comer said an estimated $9 billion in taxpayer funds were stolen in the North Star State, intended for child-focused services, housing low-income and disabled Americans, and providing health care to Medicaid recipients.

The Kentucky Republican called on Mr. Walz and Mr. Ellison to provide documents, communications and records about the possible fraud, also requesting that the Treasury Department provide all relevant Suspicious Activity Reports to the committee.

In January, the committee heard from Minnesota state lawmakers who sounded the alarm on fraud, testifying that the state’s governor and attorney general failed to proactively address the swindle, instead retaliating against whistleblowers

“As fraudsters looted billions of taxpayer dollars from Minnesota’s social programs, state lawmakers recently testified that Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison ignored repeated warnings and retaliated against state employees who raised concerns,” Mr. Comer said today in a press release. “The American people deserve clear answers about how such widespread fraud was allowed to flourish under their watch.”

He said that even though the Department of Justice continues to investigate, prosecute and charge those responsible, Congress has a “duty to conduct rigorous oversight of this heist and enact stronger safeguards to prevent fraud in taxpayer-funded social programs.”

He said he looks forward to questioning the Minnesota duo under oath “to ensure transparency and accountability for the American people and to consider meaningful reforms that prevent waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds.”