Tim Walz Claims Credit For Minnesota Fraud Raids As Kash Patel Fires Back
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is drawing scrutiny after appearing to take credit for a sweeping series of federal raids targeting suspected fraud across the Minneapolis area, despite pushback from federal officials who say the operation was led entirely by national agencies.
The raids, carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security partners, targeted more than 20 businesses tied to suspected misuse of taxpayer-funded programs. Authorities executed court-approved search warrants early Tuesday morning as part of an ongoing anti-fraud crackdown.
Walz took to social media following the operation, claiming that coordination between state and federal agencies led to the action. “If you commit fraud in Minnesota you’re going to get caught,” he wrote, adding that the raids were the result of state agencies identifying irregularities and sharing information with federal partners.
Today’s raids by state and federal law enforcement happened because our state agencies caught irregular behavior and reported it. That’s how the system is supposed to work, and our agencies will keep at it as long as there are fraudsters around to put behind bars.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) April 28, 2026
That claim was quickly challenged by Kash Patel, who said federal authorities handled the investigation from start to finish. “This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today,” Patel responded, disputing the governor’s characterization of events.
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. https://t.co/HczInx5sZm
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 28, 2026
The operation reportedly targeted at least 22 locations, including daycare centers and other businesses suspected of exploiting public funding streams. One of the sites included the widely scrutinized Quality Learning Center, which had previously drawn attention in connection with Minnesota’s broader fraud controversies.
Federal agents were seen collecting evidence at multiple locations, including a daycare facility in South Minneapolis where investigators removed documents and photographed materials as part of the probe. No arrests were immediately announced, but officials indicated the investigation remains active.
The raids come amid years of mounting concern over fraud in Minnesota’s public programs, including the high-profile Feeding Our Future case, which involved allegations of widespread abuse of pandemic-era relief funds. That scandal has fueled criticism of state oversight and intensified political tensions between state leaders and the Trump administration.
Walz has previously acknowledged fraud challenges within state programs while also accusing the administration of politicizing the issue. Earlier this year, he pushed back against federal actions tied to funding freezes, arguing they were part of a broader political strategy.
Following Tuesday’s raids, Walz also called for federal authorities to investigate separate incidents involving the deaths of Minneapolis residents, suggesting that cooperation between agencies should extend beyond financial crimes.
As federal investigators continue reviewing evidence from the raids, the dispute over credit underscores the broader political battle surrounding accountability, enforcement, and the handling of large-scale fraud cases in Minnesota.