12/23/2025
MN FRAUDGATE — on the record
Governor Tim Walz said responsibility for the state’s fraud problem rests with his administration.
“This is on my watch. I am accountable for this. And more importantly, I am the one that will fix it.”
Asked whether that amounted to taking blame for the failures, Walz said that regardless of whether the programs predated his administration, “we’re here now.”
State officials have disputed claims that fraud could total billions of dollars, while acknowledging evidence of tens of millions.
At the same time, access to certain evidence has been restricted from state investigators, including the DHS Inspector General and the Attorney General’s office, according to multiple reports.
Republican fraud committee chair Kristen Robbins of Maple Grove said she is directing whistleblower information to federal authorities rather than state agencies, citing concerns about retaliation and loss of trust. Robbins is also a candidate for governor.
Walz responded by warning that anyone withholding information could quickly become part of an investigation and urged immediate disclosure, pointing to an independent reporting channel.
The investigation remains ongoing.
