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House Republicans call Minnesota fraud probe ‘tip of the iceberg’ as more blue states face scrutiny

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The ongoing investigations into whether widespread fraud has roiled Minnesota’s social welfare programs could soon spread to other blue states, if House Republicans get their way.

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Several GOP lawmakers told Fox News Digital they wanted to see probes expanded into New York, California, Illinois, and Wisconsin, among other areas, as both Congress and the federal government bear down on Gov. Tim Walz’s administration.

«Many in California and representatives from New York are telling us that what is happening in Minnesota — the fraud, the daycares, the fake use of daycares and the embezzlement of American taxpayer money, billions of dollars — is just the tip of the iceberg,» Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital. 

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., said all states should be investigated, particularly for potential COVID-19 pandemic-era fraud within the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

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MINNESOTA AG BLASTS HOUSE HEARING ON FRAUD SCANDAL IN HIS STATE : ‘A LOT OF BULLS— FROM REPUBLICANS’

House Republicans have said that California and New York, led by Govs. Gavin Newsom and Kathy Hochul, should be looked at next as the GOP investigates Gov. Tim Walz’s administration in Minnesota. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images; Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

«The bottom line is we obviously have made it very, very easy to defraud the federal government. We know that that went on during COVID with the PPP dollars, with a lot of the money that was flowing out. You know, shame on us for not policing that,» Harris said. «Honestly, we should look at all states.»

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Federal attorneys have accused the state of Minnesota of losing potentially billions of dollars to fraud across multiple programs including childcare, food aid, and autism assistance.

State officials like Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have accused Republicans in the federal government of inflating that number for political purposes but have conceded that they are working within Minnesota to root out how and why some money did go to fraudulent means.

‘TIP OF THE ICEBERG’: SENATE REPUBLICANS PRESS GOV WALZ OVER MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL

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The political pressure from the scandal forced Walz to drop his bid for a third term earlier this month.

In addition to the federal government, Congress is also engaged in an investigation into the matter, led by the House Oversight Committee.

Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital earlier this month that the probe will likely serve as a blueprint to investigate other states.

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A protester attempts to accost James Comer in a hallway

A Capitol Police officer stands between House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer and a person who was interrupting him as he spoke to reporters after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not appear for a closed-door deposition in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

COMER SAYS WALZ ‘RETALIATED’ AGAINST WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO WARNED OF MINNESOTA FRAUD FOR YEARS

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital he wanted to see that probe expanded into Democrat strongholds like California and New York, as well as Illinois, which borders his home state of Indiana.

«If it’s happening in Minnesota, I am sure it’s happened in California,» Stutzman said. «I think that this is something that should be investigated not only in California, but also in Illinois, and also New York and other states. If anything, the burden of proof is on our governors across the country to show that they … have it under control.»

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Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., alleged blue states were more vulnerable than red states.

BESSENT BLAMES WALZ AS TREASURY PROBES WHETHER MINNESOTA FRAUD FUNDS REACHED TERROR GROUP AL-SHABAB

«I think that we need to go after New York, California,» Fine said. «I don’t think you’ll find this in red states, because we actually care about the future of the country. But I think in places with unified Democrat control, I think you’re going to see widespread fraud everywhere.»

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And Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said his own home state of Wisconsin should be investigated as well.

«Every state should be examined, including the state of Wisconsin, because I believe that the state of Wisconsin under the Evers administration has been cooking the books for our SNAP program,» Van Orden told Fox News Digital.

«When you get to California, Illinois, and New York, that’s gonna make Minnesota look like you just had lunch at Taco Bell.»

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If those blue states are targeted, allegations of fraud could emerge as a new political cudgel for House Republicans as they fight an uphill battle to retain the majority in Congress this November.

Gov. JB Pritzker

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during a press conference amid reports of federal deployments to Chicago, Sept. 2, 2025.  (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)

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Seats in states like Wisconsin, New York, and California in particular could all prove pivotal to controlling the House of Representatives for both sides.

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A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom defended his record in fighting fraud when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.

«Since 2019, the Governor has blocked over $125 billion in fraud, arrested criminal parasites leaching off of taxpayers, and protected taxpayers from the exact kind of scam artists Trump celebrates, excuses, and pardons. Despite this, the myths about California continue to circulate,» the spokesperson said.

Newsom is notably expected to be a top contender in what’s likely to be a crowded 2028 Democratic White House primary.

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Fox News Digital also reached out to governor’s offices in Wisconsin, New York, and Illinois for comment.

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Otro golpe para el ex príncipe Andrés: quieren eliminarlo de la línea de sucesión al trono británico por sus vínculos con Jeffrey Epstein

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El ex príncipe Andrés será eliminado de la línea de sucesión al trono británico. Por ser el hijo de la reina Isabel ocupa el octavo lugar, tras haber sido segundo antes que nacieran los príncipes William, Harry y sus hijos. Downing St considerará introducir una ley para destituir al octavo en la sucesión al trono, una vez finalizada la investigación policial sobre el caso Epstein.

El primer ministro británico Sir Keir Starmer considerará aprobar una ley para destituir a Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor de la sucesión al trono. Cualquier cambio en la legislación se produciría una vez concluida la investigación policial sobre el ex príncipe caído en desgracia.

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Esta histórica medida se produce tras el breve arresto de Mountbatten-Windsor el jueves, bajo sospecha de mala conducta en el ejercicio de un cargo público.

Mountbatten-Windsor ha sido despojado del título de príncipe, pero sigue siendo el octavo en la sucesión al trono, después de William, Harry y sus hijos.

El cambio requiere una ley del Parlamento. Downing Street consultará con los demás reinos de la Commonwealth antes de realizar cualquier cambio.

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Todos los demás países donde Carlos III es rey, incluyendo Australia, Canadá y Nueva Zelanda, tendrían que aprobar la legislación para destituirlo.

El viernes, Andrew Bowie, secretario en la sombra para Escocia, declaró a GB News: «Creo que sería lo correcto. Por supuesto, si es declarado culpable de esto, creo que el Parlamento estaría en su derecho de actuar para eliminarlo de la línea de sucesión”.

«Pero, recordemos, todavía no ha sido declarado culpable de nada:aún no se le ha imputado ningún delito. Así que debemos dejar que la investigación policial siga su curso, y creo que todos deberíamos actuar en consecuencia», dijo.

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Mountbatten-Windsor se convirtió en el primer miembro de la familia real en la historia moderna en ser arrestado el jueves, día que también coincidió con su 66° cumpleaños.

La policía allanó la residencia temporal del ex príncipe, Wood Farm, en Sandringham, a la hora del desayuno, antes de llevarlo a la comisaría de Aylsham, en Norfolk. Pasó casi 12 horas detenido antes de ser puesto en libertad bajo investigación.

Los correos electrónicos publicados como parte de los archivos de Epstein parecían demostrar que Mountbatten-Windsor filtró documentos confidenciales a Jeffrey Epstein mientras trabajaba como enviado comercial de Gran Bretaña, representando a la difunta reina Isabel II y al país en el extranjero.

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Si el ex príncipe fuera declarado culpable de mala conducta en un cargo público, podría enfrentarse a la cárcel.

El viernes, la policía continuó registrando del Royal en Windsor, la antigua residencia del Sr. Mountbatten-Windsor, tras su liberación. Continuará investigando allí hasta el lunes.También ha comenzado a interrogar a los oficiales de la policía que lo custodiaran para ver si recuerdan hechos.

Por otra parte, la policía de West Yorkshire se convirtió en la décima fuerza policial en confirmar que estaba revisando material del tramo de archivos de Epstein, publicado por el Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos.

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Un portavoz declaró que la fuerza policial estaba «evaluando los detalles de la información que se ha hecho pública para determinar cualquier posible vínculo con la zona de West Yorkshire».

El rey Eduardo VIII y sus descendientes fueron eliminados de la línea de sucesión cuando abdicó en 1936. El príncipe Michel de Kent también fue eliminado, en virtud de la Ley de Establecimiento de 1701, al contraer matrimonio con una católica en 1978. Sin embargo, fue restituido con la Ley de Sucesión a la Corona en 2013.

Este viernes, Sir Ed Davey, líder del Partido Liberal Demócrata, expresó su apoyo a la monarquía. Pero añadió: «Creo que deberíamos tener presentes a los sobrevivientes y víctimas de Epstein, que tienen que ver toda esta información y posiblemente revivir sus traumas. Es una situación bastante impactante. Dejemos que la policía haga su trabajo».

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Se le preguntó a Sir Ed sobre las peticiones de los Demócratas Liberales en los últimos meses para que el ex príncipe comparezca ante el Parlamento para declarar ante los diputados y los pares.

Declaró a la BBC: «Creo que, en términos generales, de cara al futuro, necesitamos más transparencia. Y el Parlamento desempeña un papel fundamental».

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Omar calls GOP probe into husband’s $30M business surge a ‘political stunt’ as records deadline passes

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The office of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Friday called a GOP-led investigation into her family’s finances a «stunt,» one day after a House deadline for her husband to turn over records tied to his companies’ rapid growth.

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The House Oversight Committee had set Feb. 19 as a deadline for Tim Mynett, Omar’s husband, to provide information about the sudden success of two of his companies to the House Oversight Committee.

«This is all a political stunt. These sham accusations were referred to the Ethics Committee, and our office has not received any follow-up because this is a baseless, headline-generating speculation and a politically targeted attack on the Congresswoman,» a spokesperson for Omar told Fox News Digital.

Omar’s office declined to say whether it had submitted the business records as requested by lawmakers.

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CONGRESS OPENS ‘INDUSTRIAL-SCALE FRAUD’ PROBE IN MINNESOTA, WARNS WALZ DEMANDS ARE ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sits with husband Tim Mynett during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

eStCru LLC, a winery, and Rose Lake Capital LLC, a consulting firm, both owned partially by Mynett, increased sharply in reported value between 2023 and 2024, drawing questions from lawmakers about the source of the pair’s wealth.

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In just one year, the two companies added roughly $30 million in combined value.

The Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., asked Mynett to produce communications regarding the companies’ latest audits and with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), correspondence with any other federal agencies, and travel records to or from the United Arab Emirates, Somalia or Kenya.

Omar’s office called the probe a GOP-led distraction from other hot-topic issues.

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«If Republicans were interested in real oversight, they would be looking at Trump and his family enriching their net worth by billions of dollars, as well as their connections to their pedophile friend, Jeffrey Epstein,» Omar’s spokesperson said.

MINNESOTA GOV WALZ, AG ELLISON TO TESTIFY IN HOUSE INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED $9B WELFARE FRAUD

Rep. Ilhan Omar

President Donald Trump pushed for a financial investigation into Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar in January. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

When asked if Omar and Mynett had turned in the requested documentation, a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital that the committee has referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee, the body tasked with investigating financial disclosure statements and member misconduct.

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«Americans have concerns about Rep. Omar’s skyrocketing wealth while in public office. The House Oversight Committee initiated a probe into these concerns and has asked the House Ethics Committee to do its job and review this matter,» a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital.

In its letter to Mynett sent earlier this year, the Oversight Committee said it needed the business details to ensure Omar wasn’t being unduly influenced by her husband’s success.

MASSIVE MINNESOTA FRAUD CASE PUTS AG KEITH ELLISON UNDER MICROSCOPE AS CLIMATE TIES RESURFACE

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James Comer, left, pictured alongside Ilhan Omar, right

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., left, pictured alongside Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., right. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

«Financial disclosure forms, filed by your wife, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, show eStCru LLC and Rose Lake Capital LLC, which you hold ownership stakes in, went from being worth as much as $51,000 in 2023 to as much as $30 million in 2024,» the committee wrote.

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«Given that these companies do not publicly list their investors or where their money comes from, this sudden jump in value raises concerns that unknown individuals may be investing to gain influence with your wife,» the Oversight Committee added.

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The House Ethics Committee declined to comment on whether it would open a probe into Omar or her husband.

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Trump gives Iran 10-day ultimatum, but experts signal talks may be buying time for strike

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President Trump said in June he would decide «within the next two weeks» whether to strike Iran. He made the decision two days later.

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On Thursday, he gave Tehran another clock, saying the Islamic Republic has 10 to 15 days to come to the negotiating table or face consequences.

The compressed timeline now sits at the center of a new round of high-stakes nuclear diplomacy. But with Trump, deadlines can serve as both warning and weapon.

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told Fox News Digital, «The Iranian regime has been operating under a grand delusion that they can turn President Trump into President Obama and President Trump has made it clear that that’s not happening.»

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TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU, SAYS HE WANTS IRAN DEAL BUT REMINDS TEHRAN OF ‘MIDNIGHT HAMMER’ OPERATION

Map of US naval ships in the Middle East. (Fox News )

Brodsky said there is little expectation inside the administration that diplomacy will produce a breakthrough. «I think there’s deep skepticism in the Trump administration that this negotiation is going to produce any acceptable outcome.»

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Instead, he said, the talks may be serving a dual purpose. «They’re using the diplomatic process to sharpen the choices of the Iranian leadership and to buy time to make sure that we have the appropriate military assets in the region.»

A Middle Eastern source with knowledge of the negotiations told Fox News Digital that Tehran understands how close the risk of war feels and is unlikely to deliberately provoke Trump at this stage.

However, the source said Iran cannot accept limitations on its short-range missile program, describing the issue as a firm red line set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian negotiators are not authorized to cross that boundary, and conceding on missiles would be viewed internally as equivalent to losing a war.

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The source indicated there may be more flexibility around uranium enrichment parameters if sanctions relief is part of the equation.

According to Brodsky, Iran’s core positions remain unchanged. «They’re trying to engage in a lot of distraction… shiny objects, to distract from the fact that they’re not prepared to make the concessions that President Trump is requiring of them,» he said. «The Iranian positions do not change and have not changed fundamentally. They refuse to accept President Trump’s position on zero enrichment. They refuse to dismantle their nuclear infrastructure. They refuse limitations on Iran’s missile program, and they refuse to end support for terror groups.»

VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT ‘ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE’ IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

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USS Gerald R. Ford

USS Gerald R. Ford pictured in the Mediterranean Sea.  (U.S Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 6th Fleet / Handout via Reuters)

Behnam Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that Tehran may be preparing a different kind of proposal altogether.

«The first kind of deal that we have to be worried about… they may pitch an agreement that is based more on transposing the current reality onto paper… these kinds of agreements are more like understandings,» Taleblu said.

«You take the present reality, and you transpose that onto paper, and then you make the U.S. pay for something it already achieved.»

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Taleblu outlined what he sees as Tehran’s strategic objectives. «The Iranians want three things, essentially. The first is they want to deter and prevent a strike.»

«The second is that they are actually using negotiations… to take the wind out of the wings of Iranian dissidents. And then the third is… they actually do want some kind of foreign financial stabilization and sanctions relief.»

«What the Iranians want is to play for time… an agreement like this doesn’t really require the Iranians to offer anything.»

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RETIRED GENERAL ARGUES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN IS ‘BEST OPTION’ AS TRUMP FACES ‘HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY’

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pictured  sitting next to senior military official in Iran. (Getty Images)

At the same time, Taleblu said the administration’s intentions remain deliberately opaque. «It’s hard to read the tea leaves of the administration here. Obviously, they don’t want a nuclear Iran, but also obviously they don’t want a long war in the Middle East.»

«The military architecture they’re moving into the region is signaling that they’re prepared to engage in one anyway. The question that the administration has not resolved politically… is: What is the political end state of the strikes? That’s the cultivation of ambiguity that the president excels at.»

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Jacob Olidort, Chief Research Officer and Director of American Security at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital, «The President has been clear that he wants to give diplomacy a chance. However, if, in his estimation, diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful, he will almost certainly turn to military options. What is rightfully unpredictable is the specific objective and scope of military action the President may take.»

«Specifically, will military action serve as a new layer of diplomatic pressure towards creating a new opportunity to make Iran agree to our demands — military force as coercive diplomacy — or simply achieve the intended objectives that diplomacy could not? Regardless, the President has a record of taking bold action to protect the American people from Iran’s threats.»

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Iranian protesters

Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on Jan. 9, 2026.   (MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Public sentiment inside Iran remains deeply divided, Iranian sources told Fox News Digital. Many view a foreign military invasion as unacceptable, while anger over the killing of young protesters continues to fuel domestic tensions and uncertainty.

With a 10 to 15-day window ticking, Trump’s deadline may function less as a calendar marker and more as leverage.

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