Walz defends document as viral video fuels Minnesota daycare fraud claims

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s workplace is pushing again towards fraud allegations after a viral video confirmed visits to a number of childcare facilities within the state, together with one which allegedly acquired thousands and thousands of {dollars} in state funding regardless of showing largely inactive.

Responding to questions concerning the allegations and the video posted by unbiased journalist Nick Shirley, a spokesperson for the governor advised Fox Information that Walz has spent years working to "crack down on fraud" and has taken steps to strengthen oversight of state packages, together with initiating investigations into a number of services.

"The governor has labored for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for extra authority to take aggressive motion," the spokesperson stated. "He has strengthened oversight — together with launching investigations into these particular services, considered one of which was already closed."

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz listens throughout a listening to with the Home Oversight and Accountability Committee on the U.S. Capitol on June 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures)

The spokesperson added that Walz has "employed an outdoor agency to audit funds to high-risk packages, shut down the Housing Stabilization Companies program completely, introduced a brand new statewide program integrity director, and supported felony prosecutions."

The response follows the discharge of a 42-minute video by Shirley, posted Friday on X and YouTube, documenting visits to a number of daycare centers in the blue state , together with a location on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.

Within the video, Shirley and one other man are seen at what seems to be a largely inactive childcare facility. The constructing additionally shows a misspelled sign reading "High quality Learing Heart," despite the fact that the middle is reportedly speculated to account for 99 kids and acquired roughly $4 million in state funds.

Throughout a Sunday look on Fox Information' "The Massive Weekend Present," Shirley stated the alleged fraud in Minnesota was "so apparent" {that a} "kindergartner might determine that there's fraud happening."

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Throughout a Sunday look on Fox Information' "The Massive Weekend Present," unbiased journalist Nick Shirley stated the alleged fraud in Minnesota was "so apparent" {that a} "kindergartner might determine that there's fraud happening." (Fox Information)

Shirley additionally prompt different journalists could also be reluctant to pursue related reporting out of concern of being labeled "Islamophobic" or "racist."

"Fraud is fraud, and we work too laborious merely simply to be paying taxes and enabling fraud to be occurring," he stated.

The video has sparked widespread backlash, drawing criticism of Walz all through the weekend from a number of high-profile figures, together with Vice President JD Vance, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk.

The White Home on Sunday reposted an X submit from Schooling Secretary Linda McMahon, who known as the alleged fraud a "breathtaking failure that has occurred underneath the watch" of Walz.

In the meantime, FBI Director Kash Patel stated the company has surged extra personnel and investigative sources to Minnesota as a part of an ongoing effort to "dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal packages."

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FBI Director Kash Patel stands throughout a press convention on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty)

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The video went viral this week amid the burgeoning scandal enveloping the Walz administration that notably included at the least $1 billion misplaced to alleged social companies fraud largely tied to the Somali group within the Twin Cities.

Fox Information' Connor Hansen and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.

Sophia Compton is a Author at Fox Information Digital. Sophia was beforehand a enterprise reporter protecting finance, vitality and tourism and has expertise as a TV information producer. She graduated with a journalism diploma in 2021 from the College of Hawaii at Manoa.