Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz says he is dropping his bid for a 3rd time period. His resolution comes amid criticism of his administration of fraud investigations highlighted by President Trump,
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz has ended his reelection marketing campaign. The announcement on Monday got here as President Trump, members of his administration and his supporters have been enjoying up and distorting circumstances of fraud in Minnesota’s advantages applications. Walz, in fact, was Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential working mate, and Trump has mocked him repeatedly. And the controversy over fraud circumstances continues to be affecting the nationwide social companies community. We’re joined now by Minnesota Public Radio’s Clay Masters in St. Paul. Good morning, Clay. Thanks for being right here.
CLAY MASTERS, BYLINE: Yeah, good morning. Good to be right here.
FADEL: So Walz was going for a 3rd time period. Why did he say he was dropping out?
MASTERS: He says he desires to spend his ultimate yr in workplace centered on preventing fraud in state applications as a substitute of campaigning.
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TIM WALZ: I’ve each confidence that if I gave it my all, we’d win the race. However as I replicate on this second with my household and my crew over the vacations, I got here to the conclusion that I can not give a political marketing campaign my all.
MASTERS: Throughout his remarks yesterday, Walz defended his administration’s response to mounting fraud scandals in state social service applications. He additionally attacked Republicans for what he known as political gamesmanship. In an announcement posted later to Fact Social, President Trump mentioned, with none proof, that Walz was caught red-handed for stealing tens of billions of taxpayer {dollars}. And I am going to observe, Leila, there are not any fraud allegations in opposition to Walz, and that is about cash that contractors and suppliers received from profit applications.
FADEL: So that you and your colleagues have been overlaying authorized circumstances and investigations of advantages fraud in Minnesota for years. What has come out in courtroom, and why is that this within the nationwide highlight now?
MASTERS: Proper. Federal prosecutors say billions of {dollars} have been stolen throughout Walz’s time in workplace. He was first elected in 2018, and greater than 90 folks right here have been charged with felonies and federal fraud circumstances, and at the very least 60 have been convicted. Within the highest profile case, prosecutors mentioned contractors in a toddler vitamin program stole some $250 million in taxpayer cash. This was within the COVID period. The ringleader is a white girl, and plenty of different defendants are of Somali origin.
Not too long ago, President Trump has been simply verbally attacking folks of Somali backgrounds in Minnesota, accusing them of fraud, calling U.S. Consultant Ilhan Omar and her associates rubbish and saying he does not need them within the U.S. Now, this all comes after the vacations when a viral video of a MAGA-connected influencer is accusing day care facilities run by Somali Individuals of fraud with out proof. Within the video, they are often seen knocking on day care middle doorways in Minneapolis and demanding to see the kids.
FADEL: Yeah. So actually scapegoating the complete Somali group in Minnesota over accusations or crimes of some.
MASTERS: Proper.
FADEL: And now there are nationwide implications on this state and past, proper?
MASTERS: Yeah. The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies mentioned final week it is freezing some federal funding meant to assist many low-income households throughout the nation pay for little one care. And Republicans in Ohio, additionally with a large Somali American inhabitants, known as for an audit into applications there. And yesterday, the governor there, Mike DeWine, a Republican, defended his state’s applications. Republican Governor Greg Abbott ordered a probe of applications in Texas yesterday. Right here in Minnesota, the administration has been sending extra federal officers and initiating investigations.
FADEL: So the place do issues stand now with Minnesota’s governor’s race, on condition that Walz is dropping out?
MASTERS: Proper. A protracted checklist of Republicans have already introduced their working. Identify a pair – Minnesota Speaker of the Home Lisa Demuth, additionally MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell. For Democrats, we’re listening to that Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar may be entering into the race. That would excite some Democrats as a result of she’s received 4 instances right here. Final reelected in simply 2024.
FADEL: That is Clay Masters of Minnesota Public Radio. Thanks.
MASTERS: You are welcome.
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