NYT writer claims ‘politicized’ DOJ ‘scapegoated’ Minnesota’s Somali community
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New York Times writer Mara Gay downplayed rising allegations of fraud in Minnesota, arguing that the Somali community was being “scapegoated” by a politicized Department of Justice (DOJ).
Gay’s comments on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” program on Monday came after a video by freelance journalist Nick Shirley went viral depicting visits to multiple Minnesota child care facilities that were largely inactive despite receiving millions in government funding.
While Gay conceded that any fraud in the state “absolutely” should be investigated regardless of which party is in office, he claimed that federal investigations into Minnesota were likely politically motivated.
TIM WALZ RETURNS SCAM ALLEGATIONS IN MINNESOTA AFTER VIRAL DAILY CARE VIDEO
Homeland Security investigators were part of a major fraud investigation in Minneapolis on Monday after a video was released over the weekend about alleged day care fraud. (Department of Homeland Security)
“The question is, why is this a different priority?” he asked. “There’s no denying that the DOJ and the FBI have become politicized. So whether they’re reliable narrators is the big question. That’s what happens when you weaponize and politicize federal agencies that were not meant to be politicized. I think the American people are right to ask: Can we trust you? And that’s a sad thing to say as an American.”
Pointing to a recent welfare scandal in Mississippi, he added that fraud scandals are “not unique to politics” and claimed that the Somali community implicated in recent scandals was being persecuted to appease the far-right base.
ILHAN OMAR SAYS THERE ARE VERY FEW UNDOCUMENTED SOMALIA IMMIGRANTS IN THE COUNTRY
“But of course the other factor here is that the Somali population in Minnesota (the Somali immigrant population) is being scapegoated because it looks like they may have been involved in some way,” Gay said. “This community is definitely being scapegoated in a way that serves the far right, and that’s something to be aware of. And it’s totally inappropriate.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been criticized over the discovery of mounting fraud schemes in his state. (Getty Images)
In a comment to Fox News Digital, the Justice Department noted a recent X post from U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi, who said they had charged 98 people since investigations began, 85 of whom were of Somali descent.
“We have other prosecutions as well… PULL YOUR BELT, DEPUTIES!” bondi wrote.
Minnesota has been the center of ongoing fraud scandals for weeks; At least $1 billion has reportedly been lost due to alleged social services fraud largely tied to the Somali community in Minneapolis, but Minnesota Governor Tim Walz disputed that figure.
TIM WALZ WAS CALLED OUT BY THE WASHINGTON POST FOR REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
Over the weekend, FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was sending additional personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota as part of ongoing efforts to “dismantle large-scale fraud schemes that exploit federal programs.”
Authorities say at least $1 billion has been lost to fraud tied to Minnesota’s Somali community. (Michael Dorgan/Fox News Digital; Scott Olson/Getty Images)
On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on X that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were in Minneapolis conducting a “major” investigation.
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Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
