NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s workplace is pushing again in opposition to fraud allegations after a viral video confirmed visits to a number of childcare facilities within the state, together with one which allegedly acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in state funding regardless of showing largely inactive.
Responding to questions concerning the allegations and the video posted by impartial journalist Nick Shirley, a spokesperson for the governor instructed Fox Information that Walz has spent years working to “crack down on fraud” and has taken steps to strengthen oversight of state applications, together with initiating investigations into a number of services.
“The governor has labored for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for extra authority to take aggressive motion,” the spokesperson mentioned. “He has strengthened oversight — together with launching investigations into these particular services, certainly one of which was already closed.”
LAWMAKERS PROBE SBA LOANS LINKED TO MINNESOTA’S $9B FRAUD SCANDAL: ‘RECKLESS DECISION MAKING’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz listens throughout a listening to with the Home Oversight and Accountability Committee on the U.S. Capitol on June 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs)
The spokesperson added that Walz has “employed an outdoor agency to audit funds to high-risk applications, shut down the Housing Stabilization Companies program completely, introduced a brand new statewide program integrity director, and supported legal prosecutions.”
The response follows the discharge of a 42-minute video by Shirley, posted Friday on X and YouTube, documenting visits to a number of daycare centers in the blue state, together with a location on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
Within the video, Shirley and one other man are seen at what seems to be a largely inactive childcare facility. The constructing additionally shows a misspelled sign reading “High quality Learing Heart,” although the middle is reportedly alleged to account for 99 kids and acquired roughly $4 million in state funds.
Throughout a Sunday look on Fox Information’ “The Massive Weekend Present,” Shirley mentioned the alleged fraud in Minnesota was “so apparent” {that a} “kindergartner may work out that there’s fraud happening.”
Throughout a Sunday look on Fox Information’ “The Massive Weekend Present,” impartial journalist Nick Shirley mentioned the alleged fraud in Minnesota was “so apparent” {that a} “kindergartner may work out that there’s fraud happening.” (Fox Information)
Shirley additionally urged different journalists could also be reluctant to pursue related reporting out of concern of being labeled “Islamophobic” or “racist.”
“Fraud is fraud, and we work too exhausting merely simply to be paying taxes and enabling fraud to be taking place,” he mentioned.
The video has sparked widespread backlash, drawing criticism of Walz all through the weekend from a number of high-profile figures, together with Vice President JD Vance, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk.
The White Home on Sunday reposted an X submit from Schooling Secretary Linda McMahon, who known as the alleged fraud a “breathtaking failure that has occurred underneath the watch” of Walz.
In the meantime, FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned the company has surged further personnel and investigative sources to Minnesota as a part of an ongoing effort to “dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal applications.”
FBI Director Kash Patel stands throughout a press convention on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The video went viral this week amid the burgeoning scandal enveloping the Walz administration that notably included at the very least $1 billion misplaced to alleged social companies fraud largely tied to the Somali neighborhood within the Twin Cities.
Fox Information’ Connor Hansen and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
