NEW: Minnesota daycare manager PUSHES BACK on fraud claims

Fox News covers the ongoing federal investigation into alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota, focusing on daycare and healthcare centers that have come under scrutiny. According to the broadcast, Department of Homeland Security officials are conducting investigations on the ground in Minneapolis following viral reports by independent journalist Nick Shirley that raised questions about federally funded childcare facilities.

According to Fox News, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that federal authorities have been investigating these allegations for months, with 98 people charged so far, 85 of whom are allegedly of Somali descent. The report indicates that DHS officials posted footage on social media showing federal agents investigating suspected fraud cases at daycare and healthcare centers throughout the city.

The broadcast highlights one facility that has become central to the controversy: Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis. Fox News notes the facility misspelled “learning” on its sign, though representatives say they are fixing the error. A manager from the daycare pushes back against fraud allegations in the video, claiming that journalism surrounding the investigation has been “dishonest.” The manager alleges that reporters visited the facility outside of operating hours and then claimed the center was closed while still receiving taxpayer money, calling such characterizations “completely false.”

According to Fox News, Minnesota officials are disputing some claims, stating that previous investigations into locations referenced in Shirley’s videos did not uncover evidence of fraud. However, the hosts note reporting from The New York Times indicating well over a billion dollars in alleged fraud in Minnesota, with a U.S. Attorney suggesting the actual number could be much higher—potentially around $9 billion when examining overall Medicare and Medicaid spending in the state.

In Fox News’s Own Words

“Attorney General Pam Bondi says they have been looking into these allegations of fraud for months and they expect more prosecutions will be coming.”

“What we do know for a fact, The New York Times had a big story talking about well over a billion dollars in fraud in this state.”

“There is always a tie when it comes to sanctuary jurisdictions. You see a lot of these fraudsters use sanctuary rules and protections to enact value fraud like this.”

Fox News reports that Minnesota GOP lawmakers are calling for Governor Tim Walz to resign, alleging he failed to address fraud concerns despite years of warnings. The broadcast features commentary from ICE Director Todd Lyons, who allegedly connects sanctuary city policies to fraud schemes. The hosts question why these issues weren’t discovered during the vice presidential vetting process when Walz was Kamala Harris’s running mate. The segment concludes by noting similar allegations of money mismanagement have emerged in California, suggesting Minnesota may not be an isolated case.