(NewsNation) — As an investigation into allegations of fraud in Minnesota’s social services continues, the state’s top Republican said she’s “not surprised.”
“It has gone ignored by Democrats here in the state of Minnesota for over eight years,” state House Speaker Lisa Demuth told NewsNation. “I’m grateful that YouTuber Nick Shirley has gotten attention to what’s been ignored by our mainstream media here.”
FBI Director Kash Patel on Sunday hinted at additional resources being put into the investigation, calling recent federal charges “the very tip of the iceberg.”
The Trump administration is pointing the blame at Minnesota’s large Somali community, framing the fraud cases as examples of Somalis playing the system. Federal sources told NewsNation that of the nearly 90 people charged in multiple fraud schemes, nearly all are Somali American.
Democrats have pushed back on these attacks, warning against the dangers of scapegoating an entire community due to the actions of a few.
Demuth, who is running for governor, said Democrats in Minnesota have either ignored cases of fraud or chosen to cover them up — and that it’s occurred across several agencies in the state.
“It has gone unchecked in Minnesota under the Walz administration for far too long,” she said.
On Sunday, Gov. Tim Walz’s press office issued a statement on his efforts to curb the fraud and misuse of funds: “The Governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action.’