Minnesota Attorney General Responds to Fraud Allegations
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recently addressed reporters regarding the state’s management of a significant fraud scandal, especially after Vice President J.D. Vance urged the Department of Justice to investigate Ellison in connection with an alleged $8 billion Medicaid fraud scheme.
When a reporter questioned whether Ellison could have approached the situation differently prior to the fraud accusations, he was quick to defend his record.
“So that’s a bogus number,” Ellison stated. “The fact is, fraud is always wrong.”
“Could you give me a break?” he added. “Fraud is always wrong. We have prosecuted over 341 cases of Medicaid fraud.”
In response to the reporter’s request for specific numbers and references, Ellison accused the journalist of partiality in their reporting.
“The numbers you mention are closely associated with people with very unique political beliefs who are aligned with the Trump administration,” he contended.
“But that’s wrong. And if you’re a real reporter, you know that,” he insisted, concluding with a firm, “That’s it, I’m done talking with you. Bye bye.”
The $8 billion figure is often referenced by the House Oversight Committee as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who claims billions may have been lost in fraud across Minnesota’s public assistance programs. Thompson noted that investigators suspect around half of the $18 billion disbursed through 14 Medicaid programs since 2018 could be linked to a large-scale fraudulent scheme.
This scandal has garnered national attention due to Congressional inquiries and various major fraud cases involving federally funded programs in nutrition, education, and Medicaid. Allegations also suggest that multiple nonprofit organizations illegally appropriated millions in taxpayer money using elaborate tactics, many of which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notable examples, like the “Feeding Our Future” initiative, are associated with Minnesota’s Somali community. Investigators from the House Oversight Committee have claimed, based on discussions with officials in state education and human services, that Ellison was warned multiple times about the extensive fraud before it came to light.
