Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is comforted as Kamala Harris delivers remarks, conceding the 2024 US presidential election. © REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
(St. Paul, MN) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says his state is launching a new statewide fraud prevention program. This comes after several notable instances of fraud were uncovered — largely centered on the Somali immigrant community in Minneapolis. By some estimates the fraud has stolen more than $1 billion from taxpayers in the state. Others have suggested the fraud may be as high as $10 billion.
LISTEN — Anthony Cumia went in on the Minneapolis’ Somali fraud scheme…
On Friday, December 12, 2025, Walz announced he had appointed a new director of Program Integrity. The goal is to both address past instances of fraud while preventing future occurrences. But many have said Walz needs to be held accountable himself for being governor while such widespread fraud occurred. During the time when he was governor, and running for vice president, people connected to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar were fattening themselves up on state funds.
Whistleblowers have said they flagged the fraud and told Governor Walz’s office about it. Rep. Omar held a fundraiser at a restaurant owned by one of the convicted fraudsters, and was even forced to return some campaign funds after it was determined they came in from criminals. Plus, Omar is a standard bearer for the Democrats and leftist movement — meaning she and Walz are close allies either way.
Walz singled out President Trump in making remarks about the fraud prevention. After the recent fraud instances came to light, Trump blasted the Minneapolis’ Somali immigrant community — saying they’re largely complainers who only take from the community. In some cases, fraudsters send money back to Somalia in order to fund terrorist groups. Clearly, that’s going to anger Trump and bring out his fire.
Walz says that Trump’s comments were “vile, racist lies and slander towards our fellow Minnesotans.” He suggested that two American citizens were detained during an ICE raid, adding those operations were conducted without cooperation from local cops. “These chaotic operations are doing nothing to make us safer… The absolute recklessness of doing some of this and the targeting of a specific community, unconscionable.” Waltz also expressed anger the raids were done during snowy weather — which, at least check, is pretty common in Minnesota.
Apparently Walz thinks snow should be enough cover for illegal immigration. The governor has also characterized Trump’s language as “cruel” and “dehumanizing,” referring to federal ICE agents as “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo” during a commencement speech in May.
Walz is known to frequently post on his social media accounts — and in press releases — promoting Minnesota as a leading state for quality of life, jobs, retirement, and raising a family. As for the fraud, Walz suggested people are taking advantage of the fact that “Minnesota nice” culture so many describe in the Midwest. “Minnesota’s long-standing high standards of integrity of public funds go hand in hand with a culture of generosity. You can’t have one without the other,” Walz said. “Any amount of fraud is too much.”
