rewrite this title in other words: Kristi Noem warns California’s Gavin Newsom about investigation after Minnesota fraud blast
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Gov. California’s Gavin Newsom said federal investigators are looking west after uncovering what he described as massive fraud in Minnesota’s public programs.
“We’re going to come to you, Governor Newsom, and we’re going to arrest everyone who has anything to do with this kind of theft of taxpayer dollars, and we’re going to hold them accountable,” Noem said on “Jesse Watters Primetime” Tuesday.
“We will take them to court.”
FRAUD CRIMES IN MINNESOTA, EXPLAINED: HOW HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS ARE ALLEGED THROUGH GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she intends to investigate fraud in California under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom amid the ongoing scandal in Minnesota. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune; Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)
Noem’s warning came a day after President Donald Trump called California “more corrupt than any place,” including Minnesota. Newsom responded on Monday, saying he welcomed “cooperation” with the president on the issue.
“If he has some unique knowledge and experience, I’m looking forward to working with him. You can’t stand fraud, you can’t tolerate abuse and abuse,” he told MS NOW.
Recent operations by the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security revealed widespread fraud related to public assistance programs and saw “hundreds and hundreds” of arrests.
Noem said she thinks the scandal is “just the tip of the iceberg.”
“It leads us to networks across the country and overseas, and we’re going to go after all of those.”
The fraud, which Noem called “unprecedented,” involved criminals allegedly swindling money meant for Medicaid and development services to finance “luxury homes and vacations.”
He accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of ignoring warnings from state employees who raised concerns about fraudulent businesses and nonprofits collecting government funds, and said Democrats tried to cover it up.
NEW YORK REPUBLICANS DEMAND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF MINNESOTA EXPLORATION
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ignored state workers who raised red flags about fraud during an attack in his state. (Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The largest case, known as “Feeding Our Future”, centers on a non-profit organization linked to Somalia accused of exploiting the organization’s child nutrition programs. More than 70 defendants have been charged so far.
Additional charges include allegations of fraud in the Minnesota Housing Stabilization Services program, an early autism services program and the Integrated Community Support Program, which provides assistance and training to people with disabilities who live independently in the community.
The investigation is being led by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the US Postal Inspection Service, according to the Department of Justice.
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Noem said the Minnesota jobs also led to arrests for violent crimes, including murder and sexual assault.
“We arrested a murderer, a person who cheated money in other countries and sexual abusers, people who attacked children,” said Noem.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
