Democrat Governor Tim Walz is lashing out at the backlash after staggering allegations of Somali-led fraud have emerged in his state of Minnesota, accusing critics of the fraudsters and those exposing the scams of “white supremacy.”
A viral investigation into alleged misuse of Minnesota taxpayer funds has erupted into a political firestorm.
In response, Walz attacked independent journalist Nick Shirley, prompting a fierce backlash and escalating accusations that the governor is attempting to deflect attention from unprecedented fraud concerns.
Shirley’s 42-minute video report, which has amassed more than 100 million views on X, documented multiple state-funded daycare centers that reportedly received millions in public assistance but appeared closed or inactive during posted business hours.
WATCH:
The footage triggered widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of Minnesota’s long-troubled welfare oversight systems. Instead of addressing the substance of the report, critics say Walz responded by attacking motives.
FULL VIDEO:
🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable
We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a
— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025
In a post on X following the video’s release, Walz appeared to dismiss the findings and frame the controversy around race, writing:
“This is what happens when they scapegoat, and this is what happens when they no longer hide the idea of white supremacy.”
The remark drew immediate condemnation from lawmakers, commentators, and voters who accused the governor of using racially charged rhetoric to sidestep questions about whether state agencies failed to safeguard public funds.
Shirley responded directly during a Sunday appearance on Fox News, rejecting the suggestion that calling attention to alleged fraud is racially motivated.
“If you have 100,000 people that will vote for you because you’re going to enable this stuff… and you’re going to call a white person racist for calling out facts, this is what’s going to happen,” Shirley said, arguing that elected officials are attempting to silence critics rather than confront systemic abuses.
He also mocked the state’s oversight process, saying the alleged fraud was “so obvious a kindergartner could figure it out.”
Walz’s office later issued a formal statement defending the administration’s actions and insisting the governor has taken aggressive steps to combat fraud.
The statement asserted that his administration has “worked for years to crack down on fraud” and confirmed that new investigations have been opened into facilities highlighted in Shirley’s reporting.
The spokesperson also noted that the state previously shut down one of the centers featured in the video.
Despite those assurances, the controversy has only deepened as federal authorities have now signaled they are deploying additional resources to review the scope of the allegations, raising questions about how such concerns reached this level before meaningful intervention occurred.
The dispute underscores a widening divide between Minnesota residents demanding accountability for the use of public funds and an administration critics say is far more focused on political framing than transparency.
With the investigation expanding and public pressure mounting, the clash between Walz and Shirley shows no sign of fading, and may now mark one of the most consequential fraud controversies faced by the state in years.
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