• Facebook
• Twitter
• Threads
• Flipboard
• Comments
• Print
• Email
• Add Fox News on Google

Tim Walz faces mounting backlash amid fraud allegations as DHS investigates daycare centers

Minnesota senatorial candidate David Hanh joins 'Fox & Friends' reacting to the fraud allegations mounting against Gov. Tim Walz and fellow lawmakers, his opponent wearing a hijab despite being Catholic and sharing his campaign messaging.

Footage of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in the 2024 Vice Presidential debate went viral on Tuesday amid allegations of widespread fraud in his state.

The allegations stem from a viral video posted by independent journalist Nick Shirley showing visits to several Minnesota daycare facilities, including Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis, which appeared inactive during the visit despite receiving state childcare assistance funds. 

In response, federal authorities are launching a "massive operation" in order to "identify, arrest, and remove criminals who are defrauding the American people," the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday. "Our investigative agents are conducting a massive operation to identify, arrest, and remove criminals who are defrauding the American people. We will root out this rampant fraud plaguing Minnesota." 

On the same day, footage of a specific moment from the 2024 debate went viral as Walz touted his state’s support for local childcare, saying it should be seen as a model for the nation. 

LOEFFLER: VAST NETWORK OF SOMALI NONPROFITS RIPPED OFF MINNESOTA’S WELFARE STATE

JD Vance and Tim Walz's body language contrasted at the debate. (CBS News)

"As far as childcare on this, you have to take it at both the supply and the demand side," Walz said in response to one of the debate moderators addressing the "childcare crisis" in America and the debate about paid family leave. "You can’t expect the most important people in our lives who take care of our children or our parents to get paid the least amount of money."

He went on to propose, "We have to make it easier for folks to be able to get into that business and then to make sure that folks are able to pay for that. We were able to do it in Minnesota. And I’m still telling you this: We were listed as the best state. We’re still in crisis on this. A federal program of paid family medical leave and help with this will enhance our workforce, enhance our families, and make it easier to have the children that you want."

UNEARTHED SURVEILLANCE EXPOSES HOW PARENTS WERE ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN MINNESOTA'S DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME

Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., is at the center of a widening scandal as federal prosecutors continue to investigate fraud in his state. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Footage of this moment in the debate went viral across the X platform as many critics, including Tesla founder Elon Musk called out Walz.

Voices ranging from a daycare manager to state officials have pushed back against fraud allegations. A spokesperson for the governor told Fox News that Walz has spent years working to "crack down on fraud" and has taken steps to strengthen oversight of state programs, including initiating investigations into several facilities.

"The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action," the spokesperson said. "He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed."

The manager of Quality Learning Center also pushed back on the viral video and disputed recent reports that the center was closed down. 

"There’s no fraud going on whatsoever," said Ibrahim Ali, the center’s manager. "Kids come to us, clients come to us, their parents come to us – they’re here daily, they leave on time, they come on time. There is no fraud going on whatsoever."

"We haven’t closed. We’ve never closed," he added. "There was never a time where kids were told to stop coming. There was never a time we told our employees to stop coming. All that is false information."

Fox News Digital reached out to Walz's office about the footage of his 2024 debate going viral, and the office responded by sharing a link to an op-ed he wrote on December 15 addressing fraud scandals and his efforts to respond to them.

"But we cannot effectively deliver programs and services if they don’t have the backing of the public’s trust," he wrote. And our state’s generosity has been taken advantage of by an organized group of fraudsters who’ve put their greed and self-dealing above the needs of children, seniors and people with disabilities."

He added, "Those bad actors and criminals have required us to reframe our mindset. We have turned the dial from prioritizing generous services toward greater skepticism. Any amount of fraud is too much and undermines the very programs that do so much to raise our quality of life."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Quality Learning Center manager Ibrahim Ali denied any fraud took place. (Pool)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Greg Wehner, Louis Casiano, and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

• ·《洛神》特殊坐骑年夜起底 炫酷闪烁全场
• ·餐厨垃圾桶让垃圾分类更有序
• ·2024年小学数学智力题及答案（九十九）
• ·打造粮食安全“中国芯” 中国科学院种子专项取得全链条突破
• ·《经典精英赛车》PC版下载 Steam正版分流下载
• ·精选足篮专家：周通解球篮彩7连红 七哥足球6连红
• ·“贞观——李世民的盛世长歌”展览在国家典籍博物馆开展
• ·苹果恢复大师安装使用介绍
• ·这城有良田最新史话赛季阵容推荐
• ·浙江摧毁跨省特大走私集团 斩断伪装渔船背后的走私黑链
• ·《小丑回魂2》演员詹姆斯·兰索恩自杀去世 享年46岁
• ·《武威日报》：PPP项目落户武威
• ·Xe bánh mì chay 'Vuông Tròn' của 2 cô gái Bắc
• ·《弹丸论破》系列销量突破1000万！新作明年全平台发售
• ·2025年流泪想哭的歌词3条
• ·《武威日报》：PPP项目落户武威