Tim Walz Takes ‘Full Accountability’ for Multi-Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is under mounting political fire following a televised appearance in which he appeared to personally accept responsibility for the massive Somali-linked welfare fraud scandal that has engulfed his administration and sparked sweeping federal investigations.

Walz made the remarks during what was supposed to be a routine event promoting Minnesota’s paid leave program. Instead, the governor stunned viewers by pivoting to the ongoing fraud crisis, delivering comments that critics say amounted to an admission of administrative failure on a historic scale.

“There’s full accountability for everybody because the buck stops with me,” Walz said. “I’m accountable for this. And because of that accountability, I’m not running for office again.”

The statement came just one day after Walz abruptly announced he would not seek a third term in 2026, a decision that immediately raised eyebrows amid escalating scrutiny of corruption within state-administered welfare programs.

Rather than calming concerns, Walz’s attempt to cast his exit as an act of responsibility only intensified backlash. Lawmakers and watchdogs from across the political spectrum demanded answers, while Republicans openly questioned whether the governor should remain in office at all.

At the heart of the controversy is the Feeding Our Future scandal, which federal prosecutors describe as one of the largest public-benefits fraud schemes in U.S. history. The case has already resulted in more than 70 indictments and over 50 convictions.

The nonprofit, entrusted with distributing federal nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, allegedly became a front for a sophisticated operation involving fake meal counts, shell organizations, and kickback schemes. Many of those implicated are tied to Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community.

According to prosecutors, participants claimed to serve tens of thousands of meals to children at locations that were empty, closed, or nonexistent — including vacant storefronts, apartments, and shuttered daycare centers — siphoning off hundreds of millions in taxpayer-funded aid.

Authorities say the stolen money was used to purchase luxury homes, high-end vehicles, lavish vacations, and overseas wire transfers, with losses now believed to reach staggering levels.

Whistleblowers reportedly flagged the fraud to state agencies months before federal authorities intervened. Those warnings were allegedly ignored amid internal fears that aggressive oversight could be portrayed as discriminatory against minority-run organizations.

Federal investigators now estimate that total losses from overlapping welfare fraud schemes in Minnesota could exceed $9 billion, including funds funneled through fraudulent daycare and healthcare programs linked to the same network of operators.

In the wake of Walz’s televised remarks, Republican lawmakers renewed calls for his immediate resignation, arguing that his own words confirmed systemic failures under his leadership.

“It ain’t happening. I’m not going anywhere,” Walz snapped when pressed by reporters. “And you can make all of your requests for me to resign — over my dead body will that happen. I will fight this thing until the very end.”

The governor went on to accuse critics of acting on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, now serving his second term as President of the United States, attempting to redirect blame away from his administration.

“When does the guy in the White House resign? When does he take accountability for what he did?” Walz said. “Because it isn’t going to happen here.”

The controversy intensified further after independent journalist Nick Shirley released a viral documentary on Dec. 26 exposing ten Somali-run daycare centers that appeared largely inactive despite receiving millions in public funding. Shirley’s footage showed locked doors and empty classrooms, including at Sweet Angel Child Care Center, which reportedly listed the same phone number as Walz’s office.

Walz has consistently denied any personal wrongdoing, even as critics argue his administration aggressively expanded welfare programs while oversight mechanisms collapsed. In one recent exchange, Walz responded to questions about accountability by invoking race.

“Look, it’s not law-abiding citizens,” Walz said. “If that were the case, there’s a lot of white men should be holding a lot of white men accountable for the crimes that they have committed.”

The remark drew swift condemnation from Republicans and moderate Democrats alike, who accused the governor of deflecting from a massive fraud crisis by reframing it along racial lines.

Walz’s declaration that “the buck stops with me” may ultimately mark a turning point — transforming the narrative from bureaucratic incompetence to direct political responsibility in one of the most extensive welfare fraud scandals in modern American history.