Federal law enforcement agencies initiated a widespread fraud investigation across the Minneapolis metropolitan area on Tuesday, targeting more than 20 locations and executing 22 court-authorized search warrants. The operation, led by the FBI in conjunction with federal, state, and local partners, focused on businesses, including childcare facilities, which Fox News reported were largely Somali-owned operations. Officials clarified that the activity was part of an ongoing fraud investigation and was not related to immigration enforcement.
"Come again? This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship." — FBI Director Kash Patel, on X
A Department of Justice spokesperson described the day's events, stating, "Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation." The coordinated sweep marked a significant enforcement action aimed at combating alleged fraudulent activities within the state.
Hours after the federal operation commenced, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted on social media, claiming his administration's state agencies had "caught irregular behavior and reported it," thereby framing the federal operation as an outcome of his state's initiative. This claim quickly drew a direct and public rebuke from FBI Director Kash Patel.
Patel responded on X, directly challenging Governor Walz's narrative. His post began with the two-word phrase, "Come again?" and continued, "This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship." Patel's statement unequivocally asserted that the federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security partners, were solely responsible for drafting and executing the search warrants.
Governor Walz's social media post garnered significant attention, accumulating over one million views within a few hours, largely due to a swift and robust backlash from Republican figures and conservative commentators. Dustin Grage, a columnist for Townhall, characterized the governor's actions on X as an "Arsonist masquerading as a firefighter." Tim Murtaugh, a Republican operative who served as communications director for the President Donald Trump 2020 campaign, offered a broader critique, stating, "The main problem Tim Walz has now is that no one – Republican or Democrat – takes him seriously. He’s proven that he’s that much of a boob."
The House Oversight Committee, currently led by Republicans, also weighed in on X, directly referencing past criticisms of Governor Walz. The committee highlighted that Walz had reportedly "spent an entire congressional hearing sidestepping questions about what it described as $9 billion in fraud that occurred in Minnesota — deflecting to immigration topics instead." The committee concluded its post by noting, "Now, he’s praising fraud control," and added that legislation to prevent such fraud would move through committee the following day, advising Walz to "Sit this one out, Tim."
Further criticism came from Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, who posted on X, ".@GovTimWalz is a stolen valor POS. This is par for the course." These remarks echoed previous criticisms regarding Walz's military record that had surfaced during the 2024 presidential race. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky also redirected credit for the operation away from Walz, writing on X, "Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP."
The local government in Minneapolis also appeared to contradict Walz's narrative. Social media users pointed to a post from the City of Minneapolis itself, which informed residents that the city had no involvement in the raids, directly contrasting the impression Governor Walz had sought to create.
This recent clash unfolds against a backdrop of an ongoing fraud scandal that has shadowed Governor Walz for several months. The alleged fraud, which developed during his tenure, has already incurred a substantial political cost. Fox News previously reported that public pressure stemming from the scandal contributed to Governor Walz abandoning his bid for another term as governor. Tuesday's public exchange provided a stark illustration of the ongoing tensions, with federal agencies leading the enforcement efforts and publicly challenging the state's attempt to claim involvement.
