Congressmen will question both leaders in a public session focusing on ‘rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars,’ the committee says, estimated at $9 billion.
Two top Minnesota officials have confirmed they will testify publicly about their state’s alleged fraud scandals next month, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced Jan. 30.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison will give statements under oath at the committee’s hearing entitled, “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II.”
The hearing, to be held in the U.S. House of Representatives, is set for 10 a.m. ET March 4—about a month later than the Feb. 10 date originally set.
“Americans deserve answers about the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota’s social services programs that occurred on Governor Walz’s and Attorney General Ellison’s watch,” Comer said in his announcement.
Walz, Ellison, and House Oversight Democrats issued no immediate response. The Epoch Times has sought comment from Walz and Ellison but received no reply prior to publication.
Comer noted the committee heard sworn testimony from a trio of Minnesota lawmakers who alleged that both Walz and Ellison “failed to act to stop this widespread fraud and retaliated against whistleblowers who raised concerns.”
A hearing entitled, “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I,” featured testimony from Minnesota Reps. Kristin Robbins, Walter Hudson, and Marion Rarick. All three are Republicans who serve on a bipartisan state-level fraud-prevention committee, which Robbins chairs.
Comer said the committee wants to “ensure transparency and accountability for the American people, and to advance solutions to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and impose stronger penalties on those who defraud taxpayers.”
The confirmed appearances for both Minnesota Democratic leaders come about a month after Comer’s committee launched an investigation into money laundering and fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs.
Walz has defended his administration’s record on addressing fraud in the state.
“We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue,” he wrote in a December post on X. “[Trump] is politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.”
By Janice Hisle
