A Republican state lawmaker aiming to challenge Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in the upcoming gubernatorial election has accused him of permitting criminals to siphon off “billions of tax dollars.” State Representative Kristin Robbins expressed her views during an interview, labeling Walz as “an utter failure” in combating fraud throughout his tenure.
In recent weeks, Walz has faced considerable scrutiny from both state and national Republicans, including former President Donald Trump. The governor’s management of a large relief initiative—a program that federal prosecutors describe as “America’s largest pandemic fraud”—is currently under investigation due to multiple alleged fraud schemes involving millions of dollars.
Robbins, who heads the Minnesota House Anti-Fraud Oversight Committee, has prioritized this issue in her campaign. She is among the several potential candidates seeking to face Walz next November as he pursues a third term as governor.
“Since January last year, I’ve been chair of the misconduct committee, focusing all year on this,” Robbins noted. “Even with the legislative session underway, I’ve held monthly hearings with the Corruption Commission. The extent of this issue is overwhelming, and we are still digging into it.”
The earliest federal charges related to this fraud were filed about three years ago, and now over 75 individuals are implicated in a scheme amounting to $250 million.
The investigation revolves around a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future, which collaborates with Minnesota’s Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide meals to children. Prosecutors allege the organization collected millions by falsely reporting meal counts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, many of those charged are of Somali descent, as Minnesota hosts the largest Somali population in the U.S.
Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Department is examining whether public assistance tax money from Minnesota has financed al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate recognized by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has also initiated an investigation into how Walz managed the relief program.
Robbins claimed, “Under Walz, we’ve seen billions in tax dollars stolen, and Minnesota residents aren’t receiving the services they deserve. They work hard for their money, yet we’re watching substantial sums leave the state.” She went further to highlight how state funds seem to be mismanaged, suggesting, “Minnesota now owns a resort in Kenya and an apartment in Nairobi. We need a new governor who won’t make excuses.”
In response, Walz assured reporters that he is committed to addressing the fraud issue, maintaining that programs have been suspended and new independent auditing measures are in place. “Those implicated will face justice,” he affirmed, aiming to ensure better security measures for the future.
However, Robbins criticized the governor for being sluggish in his response: “He could have acted sooner, as the authority to suspend payments already existed. It wasn’t used until we pressured for accountability.”
Trump has consistently accused the Somali community in Minnesota of involvement in wrongdoing, recently labeling immigrants from Somalia as “trash” and alleging they have harmed the state.
Walz condemned Trump’s statements as “vile racist lies.” In reaction, Robbins admitted that “most of the fraud we’ve uncovered so far is within the Somali community.” Yet, she noted that many whistleblowers from the same community have also come forward to report these frauds, emphasizing that both realities exist.
Robbins believes her focus on fraud will bolster her candidacy for the Republican nomination. “I’m aware of the issues that allowed this scandal to thrive under Walz,” she mentioned, asserting that she has concrete plans to rectify these problems if elected.
Robbins, first elected in 2018, represents a competitive district in the Minneapolis suburbs and positions herself as a unique conservative candidate with relevant experience in the area.
She also served as the state chair for Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, and Haley recently commended Robbins for her integrity and commitment to tackling corruption.
