Gov. Tim Walz took responsibility for mishandling fraud in Minnesota even as he took multiple parting shots at the Trump administration.
asserted
he → take → administration
During Friday’s episode of "The Lever" podcast, Walz said that he lacked the authority to independently stop payments to suspected fraudsters and needed legislative action to obtain that authority, but nonetheless acknowledged that his administration should have acted sooner.
asserted
administration → say → authority
"The amount of fraud, like I said, $1 is too much, but the amount that has been prosecuted, and people put in jail, is less than what [President Donald Trump] is asking for his ballroom," Walz said.
asserted
Walz → say → ballroom
When pressed further by the host about whether he was worried that the fraud allegations would continue to be damaging, Walz replied, "Yes.
asserted
Walz → press → host
They undermine faith in government."
asserted
They → undermine → government
He added, "It's one of the reasons I accept responsibility for that.
asserted
I → add → that
I think, you know, I had decided, probably after the murder of Melissa Hortman, certainly before Christmas, that we weren't going to run again because I said, ‘They're going to use this to attack others and to attack the system.’
asserted
They → think → system
"Every state has this.
asserted
state → have → this
Most states have far more than this," he added.
asserted
he → have → this
"The Trump administration decided to focus on the perfect storm for them," Walz said.
asserted
Walz → decide → them
‘Blame the guy who ran against me.’
asserted
who → blame → me
‘Blame this prosperous state that pays more money in than not and let's punish them.’
asserted
's → blame → them
But that doesn't excuse that.
asserted
that → excuse → that
Should we do more?
asserted
we → do → more
Were there things that we should have closed back doors sooner?
asserted
we → close → doors
I mean, it happened.
asserted
it → mean → ?
Now we know other states are learning from us."
asserted
states → know → us
He later said, "The problem with fraud and corruption, both of them undermine faith in government, and that plays right into Republicans' hands.
asserted
that → say → hands
Do they like fraud?
asserted
they → like → fraud
I would argue they do because it undermines federal.
asserted
it → argue → federal
It makes a reason to cut these programs.
asserted
It → make → programs
They hate these programs that feed children.
asserted
that → hate → children
They hate these programs that, you know, work with autistic children.
asserted
you → hate → children
‘See, they don't work.
asserted
they → see → ?
Let's close them down.’
asserted
's → let → them
"
Former chief counsel for House Judiciary Democrats Julian Epstein spoke with Fox News Digital about the interview.
asserted
Epstein → speak → interview
"These excuses insult our intelligence," he said of Walz's statements.
"
asserted
he → insult → statements
The governor has ample authority to stop payments when there's evidence of fraud.
asserted
governor → have → fraud
The governor can also refer the evidence to state and federal prosecutors for immediate action.
asserted
governor → refer → action
The reality here is that this systemic fraud seemed to be going on for over a decade with officials like Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan doing almost nothing about it.
asserted
officials → seem → it
And there are serious questions as to whether they turned a blind eye because the beneficiaries of the fraud were voting for them, contributing to their campaigns, we're helping them politically in some way.
asserted
we → be → way
The real question is whether these senior officials were somehow benefiting directly or indirectly."
Former chief counsel for House Judiciary Democrats Theo Wold spoke about the interview to Fox News Digital as well.
"
asserted
Wold → benefit → Digital
They were in charge while foreigners and criminals pilfered billions in public funds, and Democrats let it all happen.
asserted
it → pilfer → funds
Now they deflect and blame Republicans.
asserted
they → deflect → Republicans
You can’t make it make sense," Wold said.
asserted
Wold → make → sense
"Republicans want government to work for American citizens.
asserted
government → want → citizens
Democrats like Tim Walz prefer broken bureaucracy and wasteful programs because they know that is how to keep the fraud benefiting foreign nations hidden and their friends rich," he added.
asserted
he → prefer → nations
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital reached out to Governor Walz about Mr. Epstein and Mr. Wold's comments.
asserted
Digital → click → comments
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
asserted
Digital → reach → response
The Aporia
