Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was referred to the Department of Justice for criminal charges Wednesday, accused of being “knowingly complicit” in a massive Somali fraud scheme that has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-F.L., made the criminal referrals following a House Oversight Committee hearing on the misuse of federal funds in Minnesota, where testimony showed state officials ignored repeated warnings about widespread fraud in welfare programs for years. Luna also referred Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for criminal charges as well.
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“Based on testimony today, I have enough evidence to believe both @GovTimWalz and @keithellison were knowingly complicit in a Somali fraud scheme in Minnesota,” Luna wrote on social media. “Therefore I have referred them BOTH to the DOJ for criminal charges. May justice be swift. The American people are tired of being taken advantage of.”
The Justice Department confirmed Thursday it had received the criminal referrals. Luna cited repeated violations of federal law in multiple conspiracies to defraud the United States.
The scandal started with the Feeding Our Future fraud conspiracy, the largest COVID-era fraud scheme in U.S. history, in which prosecutors allege approximately $250 million was stolen from a federal child nutrition program. More than 78 people have been charged and at least 57 convicted, including founder Aimee Bock, who was found guilty of wire fraud in March.
Since then, the fraud scandals have spiraled to nearly $10 billion in fraud that stretches from fake daycare centers to phony autism services to child care services and more, all centered within the Somali refugee community in Minnesota.
During the hearing, Luna questioned Minnesota state Rep. Kristin Robbins, who testified Walz had knowledge of the fraud scheme since running for office in 2018.
Robbins said that by 2017, Minnesota Department of Human Services investigators warned that fraud in the Child Care Assistance Program could exceed 50%, and that information was ignored by the governor’s office.
“When people recognized that the system wasn’t working and they raised those concerns, those concerns were ignored and a culture suppressing raising those concerns was fostered by the Walz administration,” state Rep. Walter Hudson testified.
A 2024 report by Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor found that threats of racism accusations had a “chilling effect” on the Democratic-run department’s oversight functions.
Simply put, a Somali American investigator for the attorney general’s office said concerns over being called racist caused the Walz administration to help hide the fraud.
FBI raids finally shut down Feeding Our Future in January 2022. Approximately 89% of those charged in the case are Somali Americans, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota.
Federal investigators have since identified fraud in at least 14 additional Minnesota-linked welfare programs.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said he intends to call Walz and Ellison to testify at a February 10 hearing and will subpoena them if they don’t appear voluntarily.
“Minnesota social services which is funded by you, the American taxpayer, are being ripped off,” Comer said. “The most vulnerable are suffering as a result.”
Walz’s reelection bid ended earlier this week over the massive scandal.