Demuth calls for firings after new report on fraud

ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – Republican candidate for Minnesota governor Lisa Demuth is calling for two state employees to be fired after an investigative report in the Minnesota Star Tribune revealed new details about fraud oversight under the Tim Walz administration.

The Tribune’s report claims that Walz and his agency leaders may have known about possible fraud in state programs and may not have taken immediate steps to prevent it.

Demuth, on Monday, called for Assistant Education Commissioner Daron Korte and Department of Children, Youth, and Families Deputy Commissioner Leah Montgomery to be fired immediately, alleging they were aware of possible fraud and did not act accordingly.

“Despite these red flags, fraud continued to explode in those programs during the eight years of the Walz administration,” Demuth said.

A spokesperson for the Governor’s Office issued the following statement in response to Demuth’s remarks:

We reached out to the Minnesota Department of Education and Department of Children, Youth, and Families for comment, and did not immediately receive a response.

Demuth also looked to tie the Walz administration’s oversight to her gubernatorial opponent in November, DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar.

“As a senior member of our state’s congressional delegation, Klobuchar failed to address the fraud crisis affecting federal programs administered by the state,” Demuth said.

In a statement issued in response to Demuth’s remarks, Klobuchar said, in part, that Minnesotans “are right to be angry about fraud,” and that it never should have happened in the first place. Klobuchar goes on to highlight her own fraud prevention plan to audit the state government and strengthen criminal penalties for fraud.

“As this story again makes clear, Minnesotans are right to be angry about the fraud. It should never have happened in the first place, and when it did it should have been caught much earlier and taken much more seriously. That’s why I have made clear that on Day One, I will launch a top-to-bottom audit of state government to root out fraud, replace decades-old technology to stop fraud before it happens, and strengthen criminal penalties to make sure people who commit fraud go to jail. I will not wait to take action, and that includes firing people who were in charge and failed to stop the fraud and replacing them with new leadership that will deliver results. That’s why my plan has been endorsed by former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, who prosecuted the Feeding Our Future fraud and knows what it takes to clean this up.”

A spokesperson for Klobuchar’s campaign also included a statement from former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, who was responsible for prosecuting the Feeding Our Future Scheme.

“As I have said, Amy Klobuchar’s plan is exactly what the state needs to tackle and prevent fraud going forward. The next Governor needs to take on fraud with a clear, focused plan, and the legislature needs to work in a bipartisan manner to support the Governor’s plan. This is what will happen under Amy’s leadership.”

Demuth touted her own fraud plan on Monday as well, promising a cultural shift in her prospective administration.

“We will be firing every one of the commissioners that are currently there. We need a culture change in the state of Minnesota that no longer accepts fraud,” she said.