Jesse Watters: Walz was just handing out cash...

Fox News host Jesse Watters presents allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota’s transportation assistance programs, claiming that Governor Tim Walz presided over a system that allegedly handed out cash to fraudulent companies without proper oversight. The segment features investigative work by Scott Shirley, who according to Watters, uncovered what he characterizes as a massive scheme involving Somali-owned transportation companies.

According to the video, Shirley’s research identified approximately 2,020 transportation companies in Minnesota, with over 90% allegedly owned by Somalis. Watters presents Shirley’s claim that many of these companies list addresses at apartments, houses, convenience stores, or vacant buildings with no signage or physical presence. The video alleges these companies were paid to transport children to daycare centers, but that many provided no actual services.

The segment shows footage of Shirley attempting to locate various transportation companies at their registered addresses. In multiple instances shown in the video, Shirley allegedly could not find the businesses or any vehicles associated with them. Fox News presents one calculation suggesting the potential scale of alleged fraud: with 800 companies, 20 vehicles each, 10 trips per day at $50 per trip, but allegedly zero trips actually provided.

Watters criticizes what he characterizes as Minnesota’s lack of verification, claiming the state never checked whether children were actually being transported. The video shows Shirley finding vehicles with company logos that allegedly had not moved in eight months, based on what he describes as timestamp photos showing no tire tracks in snow.

According to Fox News, when Shirley confronted individuals about the alleged fraud, he faced accusations of racism and Islamophobia. The video shows heated exchanges where people allegedly tell Shirley he hates Muslims, to which he responds by insisting he is investigating fraud. Watters presents this as an example of the “race card” being played to deflect from alleged criminal activity.

The segment connects this alleged fraud to broader immigration enforcement debates, featuring Watters’ commentary on ICE operations and Democratic opposition to deportations. Fox News shows clips of Democratic politicians, including Representative Ilhan Omar and Senator Bernie Sanders, criticizing Trump administration immigration enforcement. Watters alleges Omar claimed ICE was not arresting criminals, which he disputes by showing mugshots of individuals he says were convicted of homicide.

The video concludes with Watters announcing that the Minnesota state house had filed articles of impeachment against Governor Walz, though he provides no details about the basis for the impeachment articles.

In Fox News’s Own Words

“Walz was just handing out cash to whoever put a hand up and never looked to see who they were or what they did with it.”

“They don’t have to provide any. And boom, you get paid. Nobody bothers to check.”

“These are companies with fake invoices, fake addresses, fake daycares.”

This matters because it raises questions about oversight of state welfare programs and transportation assistance. The allegations, if substantiated, would represent significant misuse of taxpayer funds. The reported impeachment filing against Governor Walz suggests these allegations may lead to formal political consequences, though the outcome of such proceedings remains to be seen.