Senate Hearing on Exposing Fraud Draws One Democrat at Opening

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing titled 'Exposing Fraud in America' on Wednesday. Sen. , began questioning witnesses. The Democratic side of the dais remained empty for the rest of the session.

Witnesses included Nick Shirley, James O’Keefe and Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette. Fox News Digital contacted every Democrat on the committee and received no responses by press time. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, noted that a Democrat should question witnesses after a Republican finishes.

Sen. Blackburn previously introduced legislation making defrauding the federal government a denaturalizing and deportable offense. Nick Shirley testified that he and David Hoch visited largely Somali-owned daycare centers in Minneapolis.

”' He noted that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced in January 2026 that he would not seek a third term. James O’Keefe testified that he and his journalists recorded 28 exchanges with election petition circulators in Los Angeles offering money or drugs for ballot signatures.

He stated that 'They campaign in this building (The Capitol) about freedom and protecting democracy, preventing disenfranchisement, and how nobody is above the law' and that 'if those principles are not enforced when they are violated in broad daylight, they are not principles at all.