Minnesota mayors demand solutions on alleged $9 billion fraud disaster

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Two of the almost 100 Minnesota mayors demanding solutions concerning the state’s unfolding fraud disaster described a local weather of relentless uncertainty that has left some constituents "scared" about what lies forward.

"My group is reaching out to me as a result of they don't seem to be getting solutions from DHS, from different legislators, and so they're scared. There's a lot unknown… and, as a mayor, we're the entrance line. We attempt to assist them," South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis mentioned on "Fox & Associates" Wednesday.

Thus far, that assist has concerned placing involved constituents in touch with county officers to search out the solutions they search.

"These which can be receiving these advantages are actually scared and frightened of what is subsequent as a result of they do not know," he added.

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Crosslake, Minnesota, Mayor Jackson Purfeerst, left, and South St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Jimmy Francis, proper. (Fox & Associates)

The scandal dates again to not less than 2020 and includes fraudulent billing for a variety of presidency providers. It largely includes, however is just not restricted to, the state's Somali group.

Crosslake, Minnesota, Mayor Jackson Purfeerst spearheaded a letter co-signed by almost 100 mayors to Gov. Tim Walz and different state officers on Monday, expressing deep issues over the event.

"Fraud, unchecked spending and inconsistent fiscal administration in St. Paul have trickled all the way down to our cities. … Our state owes it to our residents to follow accountable fiscal administration and to cease taxing our households, seniors and companies out of Minnesota," the letter reads partly.

Purfeerst mentioned the variety of mayors signing on to the letter is rising and burdened the extent of the disaster afflicting Minnesotans.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sits for an interview with Star Tribune journalists in his workplace on the State Capitol in St. Paul on Dec. 12, 2024. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune/Tribune Information Service through Getty Pictures)

"If we do the short math, $9 billion in fraud divided by 5.79 million Minnesotans comes out to roughly be 1,500 bucks an individual that every hardworking Minnesotan has had stolen from them," he mentioned.

Walz, who is running for a 3rd time period, took accountability in current remarks to reporters.

"That is on my watch. I'm accountable for this. And extra importantly, I'm the one that may repair it," he mentioned.

However Walz questioned whether or not federal prosecutors' accusations that the fraud might have totaled within the billions have been politically motivated .

"Try to be equally outraged about $1 or no matter that quantity is, however they're utilizing that quantity with out the proof behind it," Walz mentioned. "However to extrapolate what that quantity is for sensationalism, or to make statements about it, it would not actually assist us."

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A spokesperson for Walz blasted the fraud investigation in a press release printed within the Minnesota Star Tribune .

"That is clearly a coordinated political assault to attempt to silence one of many President’s simplest critics. The Governor takes fraud severely and needs they might too."