Ellison lashes out at reporter over $8B fraud question
OAN Staff Lillian Mann
2:29 PM – Sunday, June 21, 2026
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison snapped at a reporter regarding his handling of the Minnesota fraud scandal after Vice President JD Vance demanded Ellison to be investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) amid a widely reported $8 billion Medicaid fraud scheme.
After a Fox News reporter inquired if there was anything Ellison would have done differently prior to the $8 billion fraud accusations, the attorney general replied quickly.
“So, that is a false number,” Ellison said. “The fact is, is that fraud is always wrong.”
“Why don’t you give me a break, man?” he continued. “Fraud is always wrong. We prosecute over 341 cases of Medicaid fraud.”
When the reporter stated he had wanted Ellison to clear up the number and was citing a variety of reports, Ellison continued to accuse the journalist of biased reporting.
“The number you mentioned is tightly identified with people of a very unique political persuasion—aligned with the Trump Administration,” the attorney general claimed
“It’s wrong though. And if you’re a real reporter, you should know that,” he said, pointing to the Fox News reporter.
“So, I’m done talking to you,” he snapped. “Bye-bye.”
The $8 billion figure has been frequently referenced by the House Oversight Committee as well as First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who have stated that potentially billions of dollars were lost to fraud in Minnesota’s public assistance programs.
Thompson stated that investigators believe that about half of the $18 billion paid through 14 Medicaid programs since 2018 could have been part of a major fraud scheme.
The scandal captured national headlines due to congressional probes and numerous major fraud cases tied to federally funded programs in nutrition, education and Medicaid. Prosecutors also claim several nonprofits tapped off millions in taxpayer funds through sophisticated schemes, many of which expanded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prominent examples, such as the Feeding Our Future scheme, have been linked to Minnesota’s Somali community. Investigators for the House Oversight Committee have also asserted that Ellison received several warnings about widespread fraud years before the scandal became public, based on interviews with state education, human services and executive branch officials.
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