By Mariane Angela
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett said Monday that Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz allowed the state’s massive COVID-era fraud scandal to fester because he sought political favor from the state’s large Somali community.
Walz defended his administration Sunday by claiming Minnesota “attracts criminals” and telling the public not to “demonize” the Somali community, even as he faced questions over more than $1 billion in welfare fraud tied to Somali-linked schemes. Appearing on “The Evening Edit,” Jarrett said the question many Minnesotans want answered is simple: Why would Walz allow a massive fraud scheme to flourish?
“So if all of this is true, and I suspect it is, the question is, why would he do it? Well, the answer is he was currying favor with the large Somali community where the fraud was largely happening. He was turning a blind eye for political gain,” Jarrett told host Elizabeth MacDonald.
Jarrett said state employees allege more than just simple administrative failure.
“Look, is anybody really surprised that the largest COVID fraud scandal happened under Tim Walz, the guy who famously admitted during the vice presidential debate that he’s a knucklehead?” Jarrett asked. “This proves it. What’s so shocking, as you point out, Liz, is the accusers are hundreds of his own state workers who say he’s 100% responsible for fleecing a billion dollars from taxpayers. You know, this is beyond incompetence by the governor.”
Evidence suggests Walz refused to stop the fraud when he learned about it and instead interfered with efforts to expose it, Jarrett said. (RELATED: Trump Terminates Protected Status Of Minnesota Somalis Over ‘Fraudulent,’ ‘Terrorizing’ Activities)
“It extends into the realm of intentional malfeasance. He did this deliberately. Evidence shows he was told of the fraud early on, refused to stop it. He allegedly aided and abetted the schemes, retaliating against whistleblowers, trying to discredit the fraud reports,” Jarrett said.
President Donald Trump blasted Walz over the state’s Somali-linked fraud scandal, denouncing him in a Thursday Truth Social post as a “seriously retarded Governor” who “does nothing.” Trump followed up Friday by announcing he would end a federal designation that had partially shielded Somali nationals from deportation.
Counterterrorism sources told City Journal that portions of the stolen funds were funneled to the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab. The group is an Al Qaeda-aligned organization responsible for killing Americans and attempting a 9/11-style airliner attack that U.S. authorities foiled, resulting in an operative’s conviction in November 2024.
A group of Minnesota Department of Human Services employees said Saturday that Walz “is 100% responsible for massive fraud” in the state, the Daily Caller previously reported. The group said Walz “systematically retaliated against whistleblowers” and used surveillance, threats and pressure tactics while working to discredit repeated fraud warnings.
VIDEO OF GREGG JARRETT DISCUSSING FRAUD SCANDAL:
