'FURIOUS': House launches investigation into Minnesota fraud

Fox News covers the House Oversight Committee’s announcement of upcoming hearings into what the network characterizes as a major fraud scandal in Minnesota. According to the segment, the committee plans two hearings next month, with Minnesota state lawmakers scheduled first, followed by an expected February 10th appearance from Governor Tim Walz and the state’s attorney general.

Republican Congressman Pat Fallon, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, outlines what members of Congress intend to pursue during the hearings. According to Fallon in the video, the key question for investigators is “what did the attorney general and Governor Waltz know and when did they know it?” Fallon expresses skepticism about Minnesota state officials conducting their own investigation, and notes that the Trump administration has sent what he describes as “strike teams” to Minnesota to examine the matter.

Fallon characterizes the alleged fraud in stark terms, comparing the scale to historical heists. According to the congressman, approximately $9 billion in taxpayer money is at issue—a sum he suggests dwarfs famous crimes like the Lufthansa heist and California trust bank robbery. Fallon emphasizes that the funds were allegedly intended for vulnerable children from low-income families, underscoring what Fox News presents as the human impact of the alleged scheme.

Governor Walz responds to the hearing invitation with criticism of the committee’s approach. Fox News includes Walz’s statement, in which he argues the committee has “a track record of holding circus hearings that have nothing to do with the issue at hand.” The governor’s response also pivots to criticism of the Trump administration, alleging the president has been “selling pardons” while Walz claims to be working to ensure “fraudsters go to prison.”

Fallon responds to Walz’s criticism by arguing that the Oversight Committee asks “tough questions” rather than offering “softballs,” and suggests the governor needs to account for what allegedly occurred under his administration. According to Fallon, the alleged fraud targeted “largely a Somali community that just got to the United States.”

The segment also addresses what Fox News describes as an immigration-related fraud case in Texas. According to Fallon, three individuals allegedly from Latvia who are accused of operating a gift card scheme that allegedly stole $14 million. Fallon describes the alleged operation: the suspects would allegedly grab gift cards in stores, obtain the card numbers, return them, and then intercept funds when others purchased the cards. Fallon states that Texas intends to pursue criminal justice while emphasizing his view that non-citizens convicted of felonies should be deported.

The congressman suggests this investigation will extend beyond the two planned hearings, indicating an ongoing effort to examine what he calls “root causes” of the alleged fraud.

In Fox News’s Own Words

“What did the attorney general and Governor Waltz know and when did they know it?”

“Nine billion dollar of taxpayer money. And I’m furious.”

“This is going to be a series because we again we need to get to the bottom and the root causes.”