UMVA has learned that Vice President J.D. Vance has taken a significant step in a potential scandal involving Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, referring allegations of fraud in federally funded social services programs to the Justice Department's fraud division for a criminal investigation.
The move comes after a damning report from the House Oversight Committee alleged that state officials, including Walz and Ellison, were warned about fraud but failed to act, partly due to threats of litigation and concerns about being accused of discrimination. Vance made the announcement on Fox News, revealing that he had referred the case to the Department of Justice just before the interview.
Vance expressed concern about the alleged cover-up, highlighting that whistleblowers within Walz's office were reportedly shut down and accused of racism or xenophobia for questioning the use of taxpayer money. He emphasized that the allegations suggest a lack of seriousness about addressing fraud, and if a criminal violation is found, it will be prosecuted.
The Vice President, leading the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, has been vocal about his commitment to tackling fraud, as part of a broader effort to root out corruption. He later reinforced his comments on social media, stating that Minnesota state officials must face justice if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath, or harassed whistleblowers.
This development adds to the growing tension between Minnesota's government and the federal authorities, with Vance and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz previously announcing a pause on federal Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota. Walz had described the move as a "campaign of retribution" and accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government to punish blue states.
