Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey broke ranks with other Democrats by openly acknowledging a large fraud problem in Minnesota, and his comments have put pressure on other officials who previously downplayed or redirected attention away from the scandal.
For months Democratic officials insisted the fraud wasn’t happening or that reports were overblown, even as dozens were arrested and convictions followed in the Feeding Our Future case. That denial shifted this week when Frey acknowledged the problem in public remarks, forcing a reckoning with what had been dismissed as right-wing noise. The switch is notable given how aggressive some Democrats were in labeling investigations and coverage as partisan attacks.
“Our office is receiving a large number of reports of members of the Somali community being sent hateful, threatening, and disturbing messages. This is the predictable — and absolutely unacceptable — result of far-right propagandists demonizing an entire group of people for the actions of individuals who share their ethnicity. If you receive these sorts of messages or threats, or you know someone who has, please make a report to local law enforcement. When reports are made and cases submitted, our review for prosecution can begin. We are always ready to support our community and do everything in our power to keep each other safe.”
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown also drew attention away from the fraud itself, saying he was more concerned about reporters and the harassment reported by providers than the underlying crimes. He wrote that his office had heard from members of the Somali community about alleged harassment tied to reporting. Brown warned that showing up at people’s homes and filming minors was unsafe and not a substitute for proper investigation.
“My office has received outreach from members of the Somali community after reports of home-based daycare providers being harassed and accused of fraud with little to no fact-checking,” Brown wrote on X.
“We are in touch with the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families regarding the claims being pushed online and the harassment reported by daycare providers. Showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation. Neither is filming minors who may be in the home. This is unsafe and potentially dangerous behavior,” Brown continued.
Seattle’s mayor went even further, calling the fraud investigations “hate crimes,” and other local leaders echoed similar defenses. That reflex to accuse investigators and reporters, rather than confront the theft of taxpayer funds, framed the early narrative. Clearly, Frey either skipped that memo or decided to break from it publicly.
“Let me ask you about the leadership in your state,” host Kristen Welker says. “Dozens of people in Minnesota have been charged and convicted with stealing millions of dollars of taxpayer money for taxpayer programs. Do you think Governor Walz did enough to stop the fraud in your state? And do you support his decision not to run for reelection?”
“Well, look, Governor Walz is the reason we’ve got paid leave, family leave in Minnesota. HIm and I, we’ve been through thick and thin…” Frey says. Welker presses again about whether Walz did enough to combat fraud, interrupting to push the point home.
“Obviously, everybody could have done more to prevent fraud,” Frey replies. “And I think that’s a fair point to make, do more to prevent fraud. Look what he’s doing right now, he’s setting up a whole bunch of infrastructure to do that.”
Frey went on to state plainly that the fraud is real and must be prosecuted, insisting that individuals who break the law should be charged and jailed. He stressed that holding an entire community responsible for the crimes of individuals is wrong, while still acknowledging systemic gaps that allowed fraud to happen. Those words land differently coming from a mayor who once tolerated dismissal of the problem.
For Republicans and concerned taxpayers, Frey’s admission is overdue but welcome, because it recognizes a tangible theft from programs meant for kids and families. It also raises hard questions about why others in power chose to minimize the scandal or investigate the messengers instead of the crime. The political fallout will play out as prosecutors pursue cases and voters weigh accountability.
That’s rich coming from Frey.
