Gov. Tim Walz, in his own words, dropped a run for a “historic” third term because “every minute that I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences.”
So Walz is dropping out to prosecute Somalis and defend Somalis. Not because some of the worst fraud in the country happened due to his policies.
The prosecuting part is unconvincing because Gov. Walz also complained about “right-wing YouTubers breaking into our daycares demanding access to our children.”
“Our” is doing some pretty heavy lifting here. As is “daycares”.
The Star Tribune went to those same daycares and they didn’t find a field of roses.
The Minnesota Star Tribune also visited all 10 facilities, and found children inside four of them when invited inside. Six other facilities were either closed or employees did not open their doors.
A Star Tribune review of state enforcement records and court filings shows that none of the individuals publicly identified as owners or operators of the 10 businesses have ever been charged with fraud or any other felonies. However, seven of the eight facilities with publicly available licensing records have been cited by the state for violations over the past four years, with some cited dozens of times.
Five of the 10 child care businesses Shirley featured in his video operated as meal sites for Feeding Our Future, the nonprofit at the center of a fraud scandal that has resulted in more than 50 convictions so far. Altogether, those five businesses received nearly $5 million from Feeding Our Future between 2018 and 2021, according to trial evidence.
Walz complained that “we’ve got the President of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbors” and warned that “if Republicans continue down the path of abusing power, smearing entire communities, and running their own fraudulent game at the expense of Minnesotans, I will fight back with everything that I have.”
Everything being what exactly? Looking mulishly into the camera and emitting word salads?
Gov. Walz concluded with, “Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota America’s best place to live and raise kids. From our new paid leave policy, to our child tax credit, to our school lunch programs feeding every single child.”
All 32 million of them if the Somali fraudsters can be believed.
