Walz 'has been an absolute failure' in combating fraud, says GOP gubernatorial challenger Robbins

By Fox News · Fox News

A Republican state lawmaker who is hoping to dethrone Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in next year's gubernatorial election charges that on the Democratic governor's watch, Minnesotans have "had billions of our tax dollars stolen by people who are criminals." And state Rep. Kristin Robbins, in an interview with Fox News Digital, argued that Walz "has been an absolute failure" in combating fraud during his two terms as governor. Walz in recent weeks has been facing plenty of political pressure from state and national Republicans, including President Donald Trump , as authorities investigate a series of multimillion-dollar alleged fraud schemes, including the governor's handling of a massive relief program that federal prosecutors say devolved into the "largest pandemic fraud in the United States." Robbins, the chair of the Minnesota House’s Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee, has made the issue a top priority of her GOP campaign for governor. She's one of a handful of leading contenders in a crowded field of Republicans hoping to face off with Walz next November as the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee bids for a third term as governor. WALZ BEARS 'FULL RESPONSIBILITY' FOR $1B FRAUD SCANDAL, GOP CHALLENGER DEMUTH DECLARES "I've been chair of the fraud committee since last January, and this has really been my main focus over the last year of the legislature," she said. "And even though we're out of session, I've continued to keep the fraud committee having hearings monthly, because this issue is so enormous, we still don't have our arms around it. So we're continuing to dig in." The first federal charges against alleged fraudsters in the case were filed three years ago. Fast-forward to today and there are now upwards of 75 defendants in the $250 million scheme. The case revolves around a nonprofit named Feeding our Future, which partnered with the Minnesota Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute meals to children. OMAR ALLIES T…