(NewsNation) — Minnesota lawmakers have testified on Capitol Hill after fraud allegations rocked the state.
Testimony during Wednesday’s hearing got heated as the lawmakers who testified were angry over the suspected fraud that allegedly stole millions of taxpayer dollars from hardworking Americans, and wondered just how far a possible coverup went.
All the lawmakers present, who are Republicans, testified on what they believe to be a decade of credible whistleblower reports, warning about schemes primarily launched by the Somali community in the state, but rarely followed up on.
Democrats in the hearing were on the offense, attempting to point out white collar crimes committed in Republican states and President Donald Trump’s decision to issue high-level pardons to convicted fraudsters.
Although the schemes predate Gov. Tim Walz‘s tenure, Republicans laid the blame for the alleged fraud squarely on him and fellow Democrats in the state. Arguments from both sides of the aisle grew during the hearing.
“Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota’s Democrat leadership have either been asleep at the wheel or complicit in these crimes,” Republican Kentucky Rep. James Comer said. “How could they allow this massive fraud to go on for years? We must expose this theft of taxpayer dollars and hold everyone accountable who let it happen.”
Democratic California Rep. Robert Garcia accused the Trump administration of fraud by pardoning those who’ve been convicted.
Despite the concerns of fraud, some lawmakers are also pushing back, warning about the consequences that cuts to federal funding of child care centers and other social services will have on the low income community in Minnesota.