Tim Walz Withdraws from Reelection Campaign: Fallout from Fraud Scandals

Tim Walz’s withdrawal from the race for governor of Minnesota was not a surprise to those who have followed events closely. His administration has been consumed not just by allegations of criminal fraud, but by actual proof of theft amounting, probably, to billions of dollars. The fraud is centered in Minnesota’s Somali community and goes back a long way. A decade ago, Somalis went to prison for childcare fraud, collecting government money for “caring for” children who didn’t exist.

For the last four years, the most prominent scandal involved a defunct organization called Feeding Our Future. The nonprofit tapped into the federal school nutrition program, administered by Minnesota’s Department of Education, that was intended for poor children. Those cases were investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Walz’s state authorities had nothing to do with either uncovering the crimes or punishing the criminals, nearly all of them Somali. The Feeding Our Future fraud amounts to an estimated $500 million. So far, 78 people have been criminally charged, with 57 having been convicted by juries or pled guilty.

JH

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John H. Hinderaker

John H. Hinderaker is a co-founder of Power Line and the president of the Center of the American Experiment.

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Tim Walz’s withdrawal from the race for governor of Minnesota was not a surprise to those who have followed events closely. His administration has been consumed not just by allegations of criminal fraud, but by actual proof of theft amounting, probably, to billions of dollars. The fraud is centered in Minnesota’s Somali community and goes back a long way. A decade ago, Somalis went to prison for childcare fraud, collecting government money for “caring for” children who didn’t exist.

For the last four years, the most prominent scandal involved a defunct organization called Feeding Our Future. The nonprofit tapped into the federal school nutrition program, administered by Minnesota’s Department of Education, that was intended for poor children. Those cases were investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Walz’s state authorities had nothing to do with either uncovering the crimes or punishing the criminals, nearly all of them Somali. The Feeding Our Future fraud amounts to an estimated $500 million. So far, 78 people have been criminally charged, with 57 having been convicted by juries or pled guilty.