House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, is urging Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz to attend an upcoming congressional hearing focused on allegations of extensive fraud in the state’s Medicaid and social services programs. Comer emphasized that if Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison do not appear at the hearing scheduled for March 15, 2024, he would interpret their absence as an “admission of guilt.”
In a statement, Comer noted, “We’ve asked not only Gov. Walz, but also Attorney General Ellison, both of whom were in Congress, who I served with in Congress, so they know the rules of Congress. They know how serious this is. This has gotten the attention of the national public.”
This hearing follows a viral video by Youtuber Nick Shirley, which alleged that several daycares operating in the Twin Cities were fronts for defrauding the Minnesota government of tens of millions of dollars. Shirley’s video documented his attempts to visit various daycares, many of which were either closed or refused him entry.
Comer expressed concern over reports suggesting that some of these daycares have been changing their names and experiencing suspicious incidents such as break-ins. “We’re getting reports that many of these daycares are changing their names, and they’re having break-ins and mysteriously losing their files,” Comer stated.
The issue of fraud within Minnesota’s social services has drawn significant attention. Following Shirley’s revelations, the Trump administration directed the Department of Health and Human Services to pause all childcare payments to the state. Additionally, the Homeland Security Investigations has been deployed to look into the matter further.
In a broader context, the Department of Justice previously announced an investigation into Minnesota’s Medicaid program, uncovering a suspected $9 billion in fraudulent payments since 2018. These alarming figures have raised substantial concerns about oversight and accountability within the state’s social services.
In response to the rising allegations, Walz stated that he is committed to addressing the fraud within the state. He has initiated a third-party audit of Medicaid billing through the state’s Department of Human Services. Despite the challenges posed by these allegations, Walz announced earlier this week that he would not be seeking re-election, emphasizing his focus on addressing the issues facing Minnesota.
“Minnesota has to come first—always,” Walz wrote on the social media platform X, following his announcement. “Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota the best place to live and raise kids. I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work.”
As the hearing approaches, both state officials and the public are watching closely to see how Walz and Ellison will respond to the committee’s demands and the growing scrutiny of Minnesota’s social services programs.
