Walz, Ellison to testify at US House hearing on fraud scandal

"Americans deserve answers about the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota's social services programs," said House Oversight Chairman James Comer.

Left: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison/Office of the Minnesota Attorney General; Right: Gov. Tim Walz/Shutterstock

(The Daily Signal) — Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison will answer questions from a congressional panel investigating welfare fraud in the state.

The two will testify on March 4 to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

“Americans deserve answers about the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota’s social services programs that occurred on Gov. Walz’s and Attorney General Ellison’s watch,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said Friday in a post on X.

Federal prosecutors have estimated that welfare fraud in the state could have topped $9 billion. Amid the nearly 100 fraud arrests, the Trump administration has withheld funds for certain social programs.

Walz, the 2024 Democrat nominee for vice president, announced that he would not seek reelection to a third term as governor earlier this month amid intense criticism over the scandal.

Earlier this month, members of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee testified to the same congressional panel that Walz likely knew about the fraud as it occurred.

State Republican lawmakers also testified about state intimidation of whistleblowers.

The Daily Signal contacted both the governor’s office and the attorney general’s office for comment Friday morning. Neither immediately responded.

This article was originally published by The Daily Signal

 

Fred Lucas | The Daily Signal

Fred Lucas is chief national affairs correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of "The Right Side of History" podcast. Lucas is also the author of "Abuse of Power: Inside The Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump."