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RELEASE: Rep. Rasmusson urges hearings, transparency from Walz/MDE on fraud scandal

Monday, September 26, 2022

 

ST. PAUL, MN — Rep. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, 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, Rasmusson 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 deserve answers as to what role Gov. Walz and his administration played in allowing what appears to be the largest case of fraud in our state’s history to unfold right under their noses,” Rasmusson said. “We need to find out why hundreds of millions of dollars in improper payments were made. The Walz administration also should come clean and stop misleading the public by saying a judge ordered these payments to continue even though Judge Guthmann has made it clear that was not the case.”

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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