'NAUGHTY LIST': Walz in the hot seat as nearly 100 Minnesota mayors DEMAND answers in fraud scandal

Fox News reports on mounting pressure facing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as nearly 100 mayors across the state have signed a letter expressing concerns about alleged fraud and fiscal mismanagement. According to the video, the scandal involves billions in taxpayer dollars allegedly lost to fraud across multiple state programs.

The segment features interviews with several Minnesota mayors who signed onto the letter, including Andrew Mullen of Weisetta and Jimmy Purifest of Cross Lake. According to Fox News, Mayor Mullen explains that mayors are concerned not only about the alleged fraud itself but about how the state will recover financially. The video claims mayors are worried that local communities will bear the burden through increased property taxes as state resources are depleted.

Fox News alleges that the fraud spans multiple programs, including “Feeding Our Future” (allegedly $300 million), housing stabilization programs (allegedly $302 million over four years), and autism treatment programs (allegedly $192 million). The video states that estimates place total fraud at up to $9 billion, which according to one mayor interviewed would amount to approximately $1,500 per Minnesota resident. Fox News reports that over 80 people have allegedly been indicted in connection with the scandal, with many already convicted.

The segment includes a clip of Governor Walz responding to the allegations. According to the video, Walz acknowledged that programs were “poorly written” and left “openings,” stating his administration would “fix that” and take accountability. However, Fox News claims the governor also characterized some numbers as “sensationalized” and suggested political weaponization of the issue.

According to Fox News, the Trump administration has frozen $5.5 million in Small Business Administration loans to Minnesota pending review. The video also features Congresswoman Marionette Miller-Meeks discussing proposed federal legislation called the “WALZ Act” (Wrongly Welfare Abuse and Laundering Zillions Act), which Fox News states is designed to prevent similar alleged fraud in other states.

Fox News interviews Congressman Brandon Gill, who alleges in the video that the money may have been “funneled to al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia.” The segment also features Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna and former acting ICE director Jonathan Fehee discussing immigration enforcement policies, which Fox News connects to the broader governance issues allegedly demonstrated by the Minnesota situation.

The video concludes with interviews about potential fraud in other states. According to Fox News, New York State Assemblyman Jake Bloomman suggests that similar alleged fraud may exist in New York on an even larger scale, claiming that in one agency, 35,000 fraud cases were reported but fewer than 30 led to arrests.

This story matters because, if the allegations are accurate, it would represent one of the largest welfare fraud scandals in state history and raise questions about oversight mechanisms designed to protect taxpayer funds. The bipartisan letter from mayors—Fox News notes the signatories include officials from both parties—suggests concerns transcend typical political divisions when it comes to alleged fiscal mismanagement and accountability.

In Fox News’s Own Words

“Fraud, unchecked spending, and inconsistent fiscal management in St. Paul have trickled down to our cities.”

“If we do the quick math, 9 billion in fraud divided by 5.79 million Minnesotans comes out to roughly 1,500 bucks a person that each hardworking Minnesotan has had stolen from them.”

“What we found is these are poorly written and it left openings and the goal was to get the money out. We’ll fix that. But yeah, I’ll take accountability for it.”