ST. PAUL, MN — Representative Kristin Robbins (R–Maple Grove), Chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, issued a response today to Attorney General Keith Ellison’s June 11 letter, which addressed campaign contributions from individuals involved in the Feeding Our Future investigation and criticized the Legislature’s handling of his Medicaid Assistance Protection (MAP) Act.
In her response, Robbins requested additional clarification from the Attorney General regarding campaign donations tied to individuals indicted in the Feeding Our Future case. While Ellison confirmed that a donation from one defendant was returned in 2022, Robbins asked for confirmation on a second donation from Defendant #69, which does not appear to have been refunded.
Robbins also asked the Attorney General to confirm that the December 2021 meeting referenced in committee testimony took place at a co-working space later identified in a federal search warrant as a location under FBI surveillance in connection with the case.
“These questions are part of our committee’s responsibility to provide oversight and ensure accountability,” said Robbins. “It’s important that Minnesotans have clear answers about what occurred and how concerns were handled.”
Robbins also responded to claims by the Attorney General that her committee failed to engage on HF 2354, a bill Ellison described as a top priority. Robbins strongly disputed that claim, noting that the MAP Act was never referred to her committee and that no hearing request was made by the bill’s author, the AG’s office, or the Governor’s office.
“The suggestion that our committee ignored the MAP Act is simply not supported by the facts,” said Robbins. “HF 2354 was never referred to the Fraud Prevention Committee, and at no point did anyone from the Attorney General’s office, or the bill’s author, request a hearing. Their failure lies in the Attorney General’s inability to shepherd it through the Committees of jurisdiction or get the Governor to include it in end-of-session negotiations.”
The bill was first heard in the Public Safety Committee on March 13, 2025, and was subsequently referred to the Human Services, Public Safety, State Government & Judiciary Committees. It was re-referred to Human Services on April 7, 2025, which was the last week of Committee work before the third deadline on April 11, 2025. No further action was requested or taken.
“My understanding from our professional staff on the Human Services Committee is that both times this bill was heard, the Democrat Co-Chair had the gavel, and no requests were made by Rep. Norris, the bill’s author, the Attorney General’s Office, or anyone from the Governor’s office for the penalties section of the bill to be included in the final HHS policy bill,” Robbins added.”
Robbins also noted that many of the substantive provisions in HF 2354 were included in the final Human Services bill, with the exception of a funding increase requested by the AG’s office.
“In a budget year where Minnesota faces a $6 billion deficit and agencies across government are being asked to do more with less, it’s not surprising that additional funding was not included, particularly when the Attorney General’s Office received a $7 million increase in base funding over the next two biennia,” said Robbins.
Looking ahead, Robbins expressed her continued willingness to work with the Attorney General and others to advance effective, bipartisan anti-fraud measures.
“I hope we can continue to work together on meaningful reforms, including strengthening penalties for fraud and creating an Office of the Inspector General to improve oversight across the executive branch,” she said.
HF 1, which would establish the Office of the Inspector General, passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support this session, 60-7, but failed to pass the House after receiving no votes from House Democrats.
A copy of Ellison's letter and Robbins' response can be found on Robbins' official Facebook page.
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