Minnesota Governor Critiques Citizen Journalist for Welfare Fraud Claims

Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, who also ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic vice presidency, has labeled citizen journalist Nick Shirley a “paranoid conspiracy theorist” following allegations of widespread welfare fraud in the state.

In a post on X, Walz remarked, “My opponents have praised this far-right YouTuber as a groundbreaking journalist. Here he reveals his true self: a delusional conspiracy theorist.”

Walz also shared a tweet from President Donald Trump, raising questions about the tragic death of Minnesota Congresswoman Melissa Hortman, who had pushed for a bill that would limit healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Trump speculated whether her death was somehow linked to her stance on immigration.

In his X post, Walz condemned Trump’s actions. He called it “dangerous and vile conduct by a sitting President of the United States” and stated that by not addressing serious allegations, Trump risks further harm to innocent people. “America is better than this,” he said.

Trump, well-known for his trolling and sharing conspiracy theories, has frequently returned to the spotlight with such antics, often dating back to when he questioned former President Barack Obama’s birthplace.

Shirley responded to Walz’s accusations by questioning the circumstances surrounding Hortman’s death, suggesting a possible connection to her political views. “Why was she killed after speaking out against illegal immigration? Was she a threat to you and your scammer schemes?” he asked. Shirley also expressed a sense of pride in being labeled a “paranoid conspiracy theorist” by the governor.

Last summer, Hortman and her husband were tragically killed at their home by a man pretending to be a police officer, an event described by federal prosecutors as a “political assassination.” In the same incident, Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot but survived.

Vance Boulter, 57, has been indicted on several charges, including stalking and murder. Reports suggest he was a right-to-life advocate who may have targeted lawmakers supporting abortion rights. Allegedly, he had a list of other potential targets, including Governor Walz.

Some online commentators have attempted to draw connections between Walz and Boulter, noting that Boulter once served on the Workforce Development Advisory Committee, although Walz’s office insisted that he didn’t know Boulter personally.

Friends of Boulter described him as an evangelical Christian with conservative views, while prosecutors have not articulated a clear motive for his actions.

Hortman, who was known for her liberal stances, had been a member of the Minnesota House since 2004 and served as Speaker of the House from 2019 until 2025.

On Sunday evening, Shirley made his counter-accusations on X. He declared, “Beware everyone, if you ask questions you will be called a ‘paranoid conspiracy theorist,’” asserting that a significant fraud and an assassination had occurred.

He concluded, “I’m proud to have been called a ‘paranoid conspiracy theorist’ by Tim Walz.”