Legacy Media Ignores MN Somali Fraud Scandal
Segment #686
ABC, NBC, CBS evening newscasts ignore widening Minnesota fraud case on Tim Walz's watch
Walz under scrutiny for massive fraud scheme happening on his watch in Minnesota
Gov. Walz under fire as $1B Minnesota social services fraud scandal widens
Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., is at the center of a widening scandal as federal prosecutors continue to unravel one of the nation’s largest COVID-era fraud cases, but anyone who relies on evening newscasts on ABC, NBC and CBS for information would have no idea.
The Justice Department announced new charges last week against the 78th defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which prosecutors say involved more than $300 million in stolen funds from a federally funded child nutrition program and has already resulted in over 50 convictions. Many of the individuals charged come from Minnesota’s Somali community, and critics have pointed at Walz.
A group of Minnesota state employees said they wrote to former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) multiple times "warning them" about Walz and what they described as his "incompetence, fraud scandals and retaliation." Walz was Harris' running mate on the failed Democratic 2024 ticket.
In a Truth Social post on Thanksgiving, Trump tore into Walz, who the president called "seriously r------d," and accused the governor of doing nothing "either through fear" or "incompetence."
Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., is at the center of a widening scandal as federal prosecutors continue to unravel one of the nation’s largest COVID-era fraud cases. Getty Images © Scott Olson/Getty Images
The New York Times published a blistering report on Saturday, headlined, "How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch," writing, "Walz and fellow Democrats are being asked to explain how so much money was stolen on their watch."
However, ABC’s "World News Tonight," NBC’s "Nightly News" and "CBS Evening News" have not mentioned Walz by name in the past week, according to a search of transcripts using Grabien Media.
The terms "Somali" and "Somalian" were also not used on any of the three network newscasts.
ABC News, NBC News and CBS News did not immediately respond when asked by Fox News Digital why their evening newscasts skipped the story.
NewsBusters referred to it as an "omission" and accused the networks of suppressing the scandal.
"Another day, another massive story of blue-state political malfeasance hidden by the elitist media nightly news," NewsBusters analyst Jorge Bonilla said in a report for the conservative media watchdog. "This time, there is not a peep about the exploding welfare scandal currently engulfing the state of Minnesota — which directly implicates some of its senior-most elected leaders."
Dozens of people of East African descent have been charged,
"This is, without a doubt, a scandal of massive proportions that continues to unfold. And yet, a search of the legacy nightly news over the past week yields absolutely nothing," Bonilla continued. "Had such allegations of corruption unfolded in, say, Florida, you’d never hear the end of it. But, as is often the case with these things, they appear to be different. The double standard wins again."
Walz did face questions about the scandal Sunday on NBC’s "Meet the Press," when host Kristen Welker pressed him on whether he takes responsibility for failing to stop the fraud in his state.
"Well, certainly, I take responsibility for putting people in jail," the governor responded.
"I will note, it's not just Somalis. Minnesota is a generous state. Minnesota is a prosperous state, a well-run state. We're AAA-bond rated. But that attracts criminals. Those people are going to jail," Walz continued. "We're doing everything we can. But to demonize an entire community on the actions of a few? It's lazy."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has said, "Minnesota is a prosperous state, a well-run state." AP Newsroom © AP Newsroom
Walz also addressed the fraud at a press conference last week, saying it "undermines trust in government," and "undermines programs that are absolutely critical in improving quality of life."
Potential for Fraud to Exceed 1 Billion dollars
Examining Claims of $8 Billion+ Fraud in Minnesota Under Gov. WalzYou're referring to speculative estimates circulating online and in conservative commentary that the total fraud in Minnesota's social services programs—particularly those involving Medicaid, child nutrition, housing aid, and SNAP benefits—could surpass $8 billion since Gov. Tim Walz took office in 2019. These figures often tie into broader accusations of mismanagement, retaliation against whistleblowers, and potential links to terrorism funding via Somali diaspora networks. While confirmed losses from federal and state investigations stand at over $1 billion (primarily from three major DOJ cases), the higher estimates extrapolate from unrecovered funds, extrapolated audit findings, and unreported schemes across multiple agencies. I'll break this down based on recent reports, audits, and public discourse as of December 3, 2025.Confirmed vs. Speculative Estimates
Confirmed Losses ($1B+): Federal prosecutors (DOJ) have documented more than $1 billion stolen across three primary plots, including the Feeding Our Future scandal ($250–300M in fake child meals), housing stabilization fraud (~$300M total), and Medicaid schemes (e.g., $14–20M in autism therapy overbilling). This exceeds Minnesota's annual Department of Corrections budget and is the largest COVID-era fraud case in the U.S. As of December 2025, 59 convictions have been secured out of 78 charges, with ongoing probes.
Speculative High-End Estimates ($6–10B+):
Whistleblowers (e.g., a now-suspended X account claiming to represent 480 DHS employees) and GOP figures like Rep. Tom Emmer have suggested totals could reach $10B if full audits cover all welfare programs, including unreported SNAP fraud and "dead person" claims.
Conservative commentators and X users frequently cite ~$8B as a "likely" total, blending confirmed figures with:
A 174% surge in SNAP issuance (2020–2021), far outpacing other states, potentially hiding millions in ineligible claims.
Broader debt impacts: Minnesota's state debt hit $8B in 2025, with some attributing a portion directly to fraud (e.g., $500M in unemployment scams, $17M in child care misspending).
Extrapolated from audits: A June 2024 Legislative Auditor report flagged "inadequate oversight" in child nutrition and housing, estimating opportunities for $453–610M in losses alone; scaling to all DHS programs could push toward $6–8B per analysts like Jon Justice on The Will Cain Show.
President Trump's November 2025 remarks amplified this, calling Minnesota a "hub of fraudulent money laundering" with "billions" stolen annually by Somali networks, contributing nothing but welfare dependency (88% rate cited).
These $8B+ claims are not yet substantiated by official audits but gain traction amid political heat ahead of Walz's 2026 re-election bid. Critics argue the administration's delays—citing post-George Floyd sensitivities and litigation—enabled escalation, while Walz blames federal rules and a "generous" pandemic response.Key Programs and Potential for $8B+ ScaleThe table below updates prior estimates with recent data, showing how piecemeal fraud could compound:
Feeding Our Future (Child Nutrition) $250–300M $500M+ (full claims) 78 defendants; state ignored 2018 red flags. Could tie into $8B via unreported partners.
Housing Stabilization $300M $1–2B (3,900% spending surge) Shell companies billed for ghosts; DHS halted late due to lawsuits.
Medicaid (Autism/EIDBI & Home Health) $20–30M $400M+ (from $3M in 2018 to $399M in 2023) Fake therapies funded Al-Shabaab per Manhattan Institute report; 25% of centers probed.
SNAP/Welfare Eligibility $211K+ (ARMS) $2–4B (174% issuance spike) MN refused federal data share; potential for billions in fraud if audited like cooperating states.
Unemployment & Other (Child Care, Elderly) $500M $1–2B Pandemic-era; $17M child care alone; ties to $8B debt claims.
Overall Extrapolated Total
$1B+
$6–10B
Whistleblower/DOJ probes; $8B cited in X discourse as "tip of iceberg."
Path to $8B: Adding confirmed figures (~$1B) to audit extrapolations ($2–3B from SNAP/housing) and unprobed areas ($3–4B from Medicaid/unemployment) reaches ~$6–8B. Full federal audits (e.g., ongoing Treasury probe into Al-Shabaab links) could confirm more.Ongoing Investigations and Political Context
Federal Scrutiny: U.S. Treasury (announced Dec 1, 2025) is probing if millions flowed to Al-Shabaab via hawala; House Oversight (Chair James Comer) launched a Walz-specific inquiry into "negligence." DHS Sec. Kristi Noem tied 50% of visa fraud to state aid.
State Response: Walz welcomed probes on Meet the Press (Dec 1), claiming credit for prosecutions and blaming a judge for voluntary payments. A new task force disenrolled 800 providers, but critics like Sens. Rasmussen and Utke demand full transparency.
Public/X Backlash: Posts from users like
@realakkamara
and
@MitchMi9790
push the $8B narrative, linking it to Somali "gangs" and calling for Walz's resignation. Trump's rhetoric (e.g., "billions ripped off") has 37M+ views, fueling GOP attacks.