Vance Refers Walz, Ellison to DOJ for Criminal Fraud Probe Over Federally Funded Programs
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Vance Refers Walz, Ellison to DOJ for Criminal Fraud Probe Over Federally Funded Programs
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Summary
JD Vance said the White House has sent allegations involving Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Justice Department’s fraud division for a potential criminal investigation.
A House Oversight Committee report drove the referral, alleging state officials were warned about fraud in federally funded social services programs but failed to stop it amid litigation fears and concerns about discrimination accusations.
Vance said the probe will examine whether officials facilitated fraud, lied under oath, or intimidated whistleblowers, while stressing prosecutors would decide whether the conduct meets the threshold for criminal charges.
The referral escalates a broader Trump administration crackdown: Vance has led the White House anti-fraud task force since February, and he and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz previously paused some federal Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota.
Walz has cast the federal moves as political retaliation, saying Trump is using the government to punish Democratic-led states and that the Medicaid action was unrelated to fraud.