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Walz, Ellison to Testify March 4 in House Probe of Minnesota Social Services Fraud

The GOP-led panel set the March 4 hearing to advance an inquiry citing as much as $9 billion in suspected fraud in Minnesota’s social services.

Overview

  • House Oversight Chairman James Comer said the governor and attorney general will appear under oath for “Part II” of the committee’s investigation.
  • The committee has asked for documents and communications from both offices and requested Treasury Suspicious Activity Reports, with transcribed interviews of state officials scheduled to conclude in February.
  • Federal prosecutors and committee materials reference estimates that fraud could total up to $9 billion across programs serving children, people with disabilities, housing needs, and Medicaid beneficiaries.
  • A Jan. 6 report by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor found the DHS Behavioral Health Administration failed key compliance requirements and lacked controls, citing a $680,000 one‑month payment and a conflict of interest by a grant manager.
  • At a Jan. 7 initial hearing, Minnesota lawmakers alleged Walz and Ellison failed to stop widespread fraud and retaliated against whistleblowers, and Walz has since ended his reelection bid.