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Swedzinski urges hearings, transparency from Walz/MDE on fraud scandal

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

 

ST. PAUL — Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, and House Republicans continue calling for answers from Gov. Tim Walz and his administration, and for Minnesota House Democrats to conduct hearings in response to the Feeding our Future fraud scandal, described as the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States — and likely the largest fraud case in Minnesota history.

House Republicans sent a letter last week calling on the chairs of the House Education Committees to hold hearings and investigate the Minnesota Department of Education's involvement in the fraud case. While MDE has tried to cast blame to the courts, there was no court ruling reinstating the flow of funds to fraudulent organizations according to a bombshell statement from Ramsey County District Court Judge John Guthmann recently released.

Specifically, Swedzinski and House Republicans say they want answers on why MDE voluntarily restarted payments to the Feeding our Future fraudsters, why MDE and the Walz administration misled the public with claims of a nonexistent court ruling, and why the DFL has yet to hold a single hearing on the largest fraud case in state history.

“We all have suspected there was fraud going on with this program, yet the governor and his administration turned a blind eye to his friends," Swedzinski said. “It's time for the governor and his administration to release all communications on this matter and come clean with the public about why they continued to issue payments to fraudulent groups even though Judge Guthmann says he did not order them to do so. People deserve to know what happened here and anyone involved in allowing this massive fraud to continue unchecked must be held accountable.”

While in interim before the beginning of the 93rd Legislative Session this coming January, House Committees chairs are still free to call hearings with their members and prepare for the next session.

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