Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has moved to escalate a growing fraud scandal in Minnesota by formally referring Democrat Governor Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution.
According to The Post Millennial, the referral follows a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday that examined extensive fraud in Minnesotas social programs, including schemes tied to Somali-linked networks and the notorious Feeding Our Future scandal. Luna stated in a post following the hearing, "Based on testimony today, I have enough evidence to believe both Tim Walz and Keith Ellison were knowingly complicit in a Somali fraud scheme in Minnesota."
She continued, "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."
During the hearing, Luna pressed Minnesota state Rep. Kristin Robbins, a Republican, on when Walz first became aware of systemic fraud in the states welfare and assistance programs. Robbins responded, "I would assume that he has been aware of it since he ran for office for governor in 2018."
Robbins further testified that warnings from Department of Human Services investigatorswho indicated that fraud in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) could exceed 50 percenthad reached the governors office. She also confirmed that payments to Feeding Our Future continued with Walzs knowledge even after state officials knew by 2020 that the nonprofits invoices were fraudulent and that dozens of its organizers would later be charged and/or convicted.
Luna, highlighting federal statutes aimed at protecting taxpayers, made clear during the hearing that she intended to pursue criminal referrals against both Walz and Ellison. "As you know US Code 371, and US Code 2 which deals with criminalized conspiracies to defraud the United States and establishes liability for individuals who knowingly aid or abet the commission of a federal offense, includes willing full blindness or deliberate inaction or duties to act exists, so I will be referring them later on today."
A separate Oversight Committee hearing is scheduled for February 10, with Chairman James Comer inviting Walz and Ellison to testify under oath. Luna also indicated that a subpoena for Ellison is likely, signaling that House Republicans are prepared to use their oversight authority aggressively to uncover what top Minnesota officials knew, when they knew it, and why decisive action was not taken to protect taxpayers from massive fraud.
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