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Rep. McDonald urges hearings, transparency from Walz/MDE on fraud scandal

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

 

ST. PAUL — Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, and House Republicans continue calling for answers from Gov. Tim Walz and his administration, and for Minnesota House Democrats to conduct hearings in response to the Feeding our Future fraud scandal, described as the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States — and likely the largest fraud case in Minnesota history.

House Republicans sent a letter last week calling on the chairs of the House Education Committees to hold hearings and investigate the Minnesota Department of Education's involvement in the fraud case. While MDE has tried to cast blame to the courts, there was no court ruling reinstating the flow of funds to fraudulent organizations according to a bombshell statement from Ramsey County District Court Judge John Guthmann recently released.

Specifically, McDonald and House Republicans say they want answers on why MDE voluntarily restarted payments to the Feeding our Future fraudsters, why MDE and the Walz administration misled the public with claims of a nonexistent court ruling, and why the DFL has yet to hold a single hearing on the largest fraud case in state history.

“Minnesotans are beyond concerned with what looks like a massive scam carried out at their expense and insist justice be carried out to the fullest extent of the law,” McDonald said. “It appears people tasked with feeding children during a pandemic were instead lining their pockets and spending our tax dollars to buy mansions, sports cars, you name it. The buck stops with Gov. Walz and his administration and they need to held accountable for allowing this fraud to occur. They should start by answering the hard questions and coming clean about why they continued making payments to fraudulent groups even though Judge Guthmann said he did not order them to do so.”

While in interim before the beginning of the 93rd Legislative Session this coming January, House Committees chairs are still free to call hearings with their members and prepare for the next session.

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