Minnesota Attorney General Disputes $8 Billion Fraud Figure and Ends Interview

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison ended an interview with a Fox News Digital reporter after disputing an $8 billion fraud estimate tied to state public assistance programs. He called the figure false and said it is used only by people aligned with the Trump administration. "That is a false number," Ellison said.

Ellison grew visibly frustrated and ended the exchange. " he said. "It's wrong though. " He then told the reporter, "So, I'm done talking to you. Bye-bye," and walked away. Vice President JD Vance, who heads the Trump administration's new anti-fraud task force, had threatened to refer Ellison to the Justice Department for criminal investigation over his alleged knowledge of the fraud.

The House Oversight Committee has cited interviews with education, human services and executive-office officials in arguing that Ellison was aware of fraud concerns years before the scandal surfaced. U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson stated that roughly half of the $18 billion paid through 14 Medicaid programs since 2018 could have been part of a major fraud scheme.

The scandal involves federally funded nutrition, education and Medicaid-related programs in Minnesota, with multiple nonprofit organizations diverting millions of taxpayer dollars. Several prominent cases, including the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, were connected to Minnesota's Somali community. Prosecutors have alleged that many of the schemes expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.