The president of the St. Paul Police Federation, Mark Ross, has claimed that Minnesota Democrats are benefiting from a shift in public attention away from the state’s ongoing issues with fraud in social services. He pointed to the recent high-profile shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti as events that have diverted scrutiny from a pressing investigation into potential fraud, particularly involving Somali daycare centers in the state.
Ross expressed his concerns during an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation, stating that the focus on immigration enforcement has effectively placed the issue of fraud on the “backburner.” He noted that a video released by independent journalist Nick Shirley in December, which suggested fraud at Somali daycare centers, had previously sparked an aggressive federal investigation led by the Trump administration.
“I ensure that there are a lot of Democrats in the state of Minnesota that are happy that this is a distraction,” Ross said. He criticized state officials, asserting, “Don’t let anybody in the state fool you — the governor never focused on this.” Ross highlighted the disturbing nature of the unchecked fraud, stating, “It’s been super frustrating. That’s a lot of money.”
The ongoing investigations into fraud have faced challenges, particularly following the shootings that prompted a heightened focus on immigration enforcement. Minnesota’s Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche remarked on a shift in priorities, stating that the focus “turned almost on a dime” to immigration issues when the fraud investigations gained traction in December.
In November, the Department of Justice announced that 78 individuals had been charged in connection with the “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme, which reportedly diverted $250 million from federal child nutrition programs. The investigation, initiated during the Biden administration in 2022, has seen significant federal involvement, with prosecutors dispatched from various U.S. Attorney’s offices across the country.
The tensions surrounding fraud investigations and immigration enforcement escalated after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for federal agents to withdraw from the state following the shootings. In a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration, Minnesota officials argued that the immigration enforcement operation, dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” was used as a pretext to target Democratic politicians.
A recent ruling by a judge declined to immediately order the removal of federal law enforcement, noting that state officials “provided no metric by which to determine when lawful law enforcement becomes unlawful commandeering.” Reports have indicated that the pace of fraud investigations may have slowed as a result of the intensified focus on immigration enforcement.
The resignation of several top prosecutors has also raised concerns regarding the investigation’s momentum. Joseph Thompson, a prominent prosecutor known for his work on fraud cases, was one of six prosecutors who left their positions amid allegations of pressure from the Department of Justice to investigate the wife of Good. Governor Walz referred to Thompson’s departure as a “huge loss for our state,” while Attorney General Pam Bondi later claimed that these officials were dismissed for failing to support immigration enforcement.
In a recent statement, Bondi confirmed ongoing investigations into fraud, stating, “We have charged 98 individuals—85 of Somali descent—and more than 60 have been found guilty in court.” The challenges to prosecuting fraud in Minnesota were echoed by Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General, who mentioned that his office has prosecuted over 300 cases of Medicaid fraud, recovering over $80 million in restitution.
The complexities surrounding the investigations have drawn attention from various federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. Sheriff Kyle Burton of Mille Lacs County emphasized the need for federal resources to address both immigration issues and fraud effectively, stating, “Our criminal penalties in this state on how they handle these fraud crimes are kind of a joke.”
As the investigations continue, the political landscape in Minnesota remains charged, with President Donald Trump asserting that the state’s fraud issues are “far greater than the $19 billion originally projected.” Trump criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the situation, calling for accountability among those he labeled as “scammers.”
The unfolding situation in Minnesota highlights the intricate relationship between immigration enforcement and ongoing investigations into fraud, as both state and federal officials grapple with the challenges ahead.
