Vice President JD Vance Refers Minnesota Officials to DOJ for Fraud Investigation

Vice President JD Vance announced on June 8, 2026, that he is referring Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Justice Department for a criminal fraud investigation related to social services programs. Vance's referral follows a report from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, which claims that state officials were aware of significant taxpayer fraud in federally funded programs and did not take action. The report alleges that Walz and Ellison facilitated fraud, lied under oath, and intimidated whistleblowers. Both officials have not yet responded to the referral but have previously dismissed the committee's findings. Vance, who leads the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, was urged by the committee to review Minnesota’s social services. Earlier this year, Vance and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz announced a pause on federal Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, which Walz described as a politically motivated action. The state has previously faced federal scrutiny over allegations of fraud in daycare centers, which Walz stated were unfounded. In April, federal law enforcement conducted raids related to welfare fraud allegations, which Walz supported, stating that state agencies reported irregularities. This is not the first investigation involving Walz; the Justice Department previously looked into allegations that he conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement, which he characterized as politically motivated.