Kash Patel says Biden admin buried Minnesota welfare fraud probes

WASHINGTON, DC: Fresh allegations surrounding Minnesota’s sprawling welfare fraud scandal have ignited political controversy, with FBI Director Kash Patel claiming the investigation was deliberately sidelined during the Biden administration. The accusation surfaced publicly this week amid growing scrutiny over how one of the largest fraud cases in the state's history unfolded behind the scenes.

Patel’s claims, reported by investigative journalist Catherine Herridge, suggest that the probe, now ensnaring dozens of defendants, was effectively 'buried' despite early federal awareness of the alleged wrongdoing.

Kash Patel alleges Biden allies shielded from scrutiny

According to Herridge, Patel has been tracking the Minnesota case for months and believes the original investigation was quietly suppressed because it threatened to implicate political allies of former President Joe Biden.

Patel reportedly said the Biden administration opened the initial inquiry into the welfare fraud scandal, which has already cost Minnesota millions of dollars, but later allowed it to stall.

“The original investigation was opened but then buried,” Herridge wrote in a post on X, citing Patel, who suggested political considerations influenced the pace and scope of enforcement.

Between late May 2025 and December 2025, the FBI had 16 open investigations involving approximately 32 healthcare and in-home care providers suspected of fraud, Herridge reported. The scale of the inquiry has since expanded significantly.

Federal investigators widen probe beyond Minnesota

What began as a state-focused case is now evolving into a potential nationwide investigation. Authorities are reportedly examining whether similar fraud schemes occurred in other states and whether the activity intersects with elected officials or terrorist financing networks.

“Potential criminal violations include public corruption, fraud, cyber fraud, healthcare fraud, homecare fraud and money-laundering,” Herridge wrote, underscoring the breadth of alleged wrongdoing under review.

So far, the scandal has resulted in 78 indictments and 57 convictions, marking it as one of the most consequential fraud prosecutions Minnesota has ever seen. Investigators are also scrutinizing whether federal nutrition programs were exploited as part of the scheme.

Feeding Our Future case resurfaces in new spotlight

Central to the controversy is the Feeding Our Future probe, which previously exposed what prosecutors described as a massive abuse of pandemic-era funding.

“The Feeding our Future probe exposed an alleged $250m fraud scheme that obtained federal funding during COVID for nutrition programs but almost no meals were provided to children,” Herridge wrote.

According to investigators, the funds were allegedly laundered through multiple entities to enrich those involved. “It’s alleged the monies were laundered through multiple entities to enrich the participants,” Herridge added.

The case has drawn renewed attention as federal authorities revisit decisions made during the Biden years about which cases were aggressively pursued and which were not.

Newsmax host Rob Finnerty demands accountability

The controversy spilled into cable news Thursday night, where Newsmax host Rob Finnerty accused Democrats of attempting to shield those responsible.

Appearing on 'Finnerty', he called for congressional testimony from Minnesota Gov Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, arguing the public deserves transparency.

Finnerty compared the handling of the Minnesota case to high-profile prosecutions of Trump allies, saying the disparity demands answers.

“But after seeing the raid on Mar-a-Lago and being told that was normal; after seeing Roger Stone arrested at 6 in the morning live on CNN; after Steve Bannon went to jail, Peter Navarro went to jail, and George Papadopoulos, Rick Gates, and Mark Meadows were prosecuted, we think the time has come for some accountability on the left,” Finnerty said.

He went on to demand consequences regardless of party affiliation.

“Accountability from every single Somali and anyone else involved in this scandal, and accountability all the way to the top, if necessary; accountability from every single Democrat involved and every single Republican, if there were [any],” Finnerty added.