Search warrants executed across Minneapolis area
Federal agents executed criminal search warrants at 22 locations across Minnesota on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into welfare fraud. Homeland Security Investigations, working with law enforcement partners, targeted childcare centers and other businesses in the Minneapolis area. The operation focused on what federal officials described as "rampant fraud of U.S. taxpayers dollars" within the state's welfare programs.
Walz and Patel compete for credit
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and FBI Director Kash Patel both moved quickly to claim credit for the raids. Walz posted on social media that "if you commit fraud in Minnesota, you're going to get caught" and emphasized that "joint investigations work and securing justice depends on it." Patel similarly sought to highlight the operation as a success tied to his leadership at the FBI.
Mullin challenges governor's credibility
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin directly challenged Walz over the raids, telling the governor that "you have zero credibility on this issue." The criticism reflected broader tensions between the Trump administration and the Democratic governor regarding fraud enforcement in Minnesota. The White House criticized Walz over his handling of fraud in the state.
Scope and nature of investigation
Federal officials stated that the operation was not connected to a separate federal immigration crackdown that resulted in deaths of two protesters earlier in the year. The search warrants targeted multiple businesses suspected of defrauding federal welfare programs, though specific charges and the number of individuals under investigation have not been disclosed.
