Vice President JD Vance accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of acting like an arsonist claiming firefighters' credit after raids on daycare centers suspected of fraud. The federal operation targeted 22 sites around Minneapolis on Tuesday, with FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents executing search warrants. Walz asserted that state agencies helped initiate the probe, a claim disputed by federal officials.
Federal agents from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security conducted search warrants at 22 daycare and learning centers, many Somali-owned, in the Minneapolis area on Tuesday. No arrests were made during the raids, though dozens of individuals have faced fraud charges in recent months related to schemes targeting Minnesota state programs. The investigation gained attention after independent journalist Nick Shirley's videos in December highlighted irregularities at centers in the Twin Cities area. Vice President JD Vance, leading the Trump administration's anti-fraud task force since February with 280 officers, noted the probe advanced from initial reports to warrants in three months, faster than the expected six months timeline. Vance told Fox News host Will Cain on Wednesday that the administration received little help from Walz's office, crediting instead state and local officers assigned to the federal task force. He described Walz's involvement as akin to 'the arsonist trying to claim credit for the work of the fire department.' Earlier Tuesday, Walz stated the raids occurred 'by state and federal law enforcement … because our state agencies caught irregular behavior and reported it.' FBI Director Kash Patel responded sharply, saying the FBI, DOJ, and DHS partners drafted and executed the warrants. In his final State of the State address Tuesday night, Walz highlighted his February anti-fraud package and a nine-part prevention roadmap by Director of Program Integrity Tim O’Malley, claiming added investigators, auditors, and checks. He asserted Minnesota has done more than Republican-led states to combat fraud and called on legislators to pass oversight bills. Walz ended his bid for a third term in January amid scrutiny over the scandals.
