Fischbach, Minnesota Republican Delegation Confront Walz on recent Minnesota Fraud Report

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), joined Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) in sending a letter to Governor Walz on the recent findings of more fraud in Minnesota, this time involving a Liberian government official who is connected to at least two dozen Minnesota group homes that have collected $36 million of taxpayer funds over the last ten years.

“Minnesotans work hard for their money, and they have every right to expect that their tax dollars are supporting vulnerable families, not being lost to fraud due to a lack of state oversight,” said Rep. Fischbach. “The Walz Administration has shown a complete lack of accountability. Minnesotans deserve answers and corrective action to protect their tax dollars.”

To address the oversight failures highlighted by cases like this, Congresswoman Fischbach recently introduced the Federal Funds Whistleblower Protection Extension Act. The legislation stops whistleblower retaliation that often prevents fraud reporting by extending federal protections to state and local government employees, contractors, and subcontractors. Her bill follows a House Oversight Committee hearing where Minnesota State Representatives confirmed there are currently no criminal penalties for government officials who retaliate against individuals who speak out about fraud. The legislation would make it a federal crime for any state official who knowingly tries to ruin a whistleblower's life to protect a political narrative, with penalties of up to five years in federal prison.

Background

Recently, a Minnesota news outlet released the findings of its investigation into several group homes with reports of neglect and even investigations into the deaths of several residents. At the center of this investigation is Sekou Dukuly, a man who relocated to Africa from Minnesota in 2024 to become the director of Liberia’s government-owned port system while remaining the director of three Minnesota group homes.

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