MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is in Minneapolis and spoke to the media Friday about the fraud going on in the state.
He said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has allowed money that was intended for hungry children, housing for disabled seniors and services for children with special needs to be funneled away from the state.
“These funds could have potentially been diverted to the terrorist organization Al Shabab,” Bessent said. “We have traced where the money went and are examining it.”
Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and other agencies are leading the investigation.
Bessent said there’s one obvious observation in Minnesota as the investigation into fraud continues.
“It’s clear that Governor Walz has been negligent in his fiduciary duties as the chief executive of the state of Minnesota,” he said.
Bessent said the investigation into Walz’s involvement in the fraud is in its early stages.
“We are actively pursuing all leads to see the level of involvement, whether it’s limited to just negligence and incompetence, or if it’s something more than that,” he said.
