Minnesota is arguably America’s fraud capital. OK. Maybe it’s California, which is probably ahead in total taxpayer dollars lost, but Minnesota is either first or second. What they both share is a singular distinction: the kinds of fraud that have already been exposed, and that are yet to be exposed, don’t happen—can’t happen—without the knowledge and active assistance of government.
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And in today’s “you can’t make this s**t up” department, Minnesota has done it again:
Graphic: X Post
A program that was designed to help businesses that were impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota has been shut down after hundreds of applications were flagged for potential fraud.
Hennepin County, Minnesota, approved $2 million in funding to local businesses in response to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation, Operation Metro Surge. The county received over 300 applications and ended up distributing $500,000 to 82 applicants. However, over 200 applications were flagged for potential fraud, according to KARE 11.
WHAT?! Hennepin County—that’s Minneapolis—was ready to give $2 million in taxpayer money to businesses that were “impacted” by ICE enforcing immigration law? How exactly could a business be “impacted” by legitimate law enforcement unless it was somehow breaking federal law? Was Minneapolis that full of businesses owned or run by illegals? Were that many businesses employing so many illegals that the mere possibility some of them could be arrested and deported caused them to lose business or shut down? And if they were breaking the law, should any level of government pay them for their crimes?
This, considering it’s Minneapolis and Minnesota, is near-miraculous:
“The fact that people, after all this fraud, felt that they could apply and get away with it, I think it’s a problem because clearly there’s no fear out there,” said county commissioner Jeff Lunde. “Until we get it where people fear things, then they’re gonna keep doing it.”
Lunde said that NextStage, the nonprofit that reviews applications for the county, discovered applications that appeared to have been fabricated using artificial intelligence, as well as applications copied across multiple businesses.
“Then at a certain point we’re like, ‘OK, we’re getting declining results on that.’ And so we said it’s time to stop the program. So we just stopped processing at that point,” Lunde added.
Hmmm. I wonder why there’s no fear of arrest for fraud in Minnesota? I also wonder why the Commissioners were ready to throw away $2 million, knowing there’s no fear because of the malfeasance and likely criminal complicity of Minnesota politicians at every level?
The Blaze adds detail:
Hennepin County Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde claimed that despite the flood of allegedly fraudulent applications, no money was actually lost to fraudsters. “We caught the fraud before we spent any money,” he said, according to CBS Minnesota.
That’s likely only because they knew they couldn’t get away with massive fraud this time. But that doesn’t mean taxpayer money wasn’t wasted:
Only about 80 applications had been approved, receiving a total of about $500,000. More than 200 applications were flagged for possible fraud, Fox 9 reported.
If that was paid out evenly, that’s $62,500 each. That’s a lot of impact. And that’s not all:
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CBS Minnesota reported that $1 million in unused funds is still available for area small businesses, while another $500,000 will be used “to provide consulting and promotional support for businesses.”
County PR officer Marinan said, “We’ve moved beyond the urgent need for immediate grant relief and are focusing our efforts on strategies that support the long-term vitality and sustainability of businesses.”
Minnesota just can’t help itself. Woke lunacy is, and always has been, about providing millions in public funds for left-affiliated frauds of all kinds. How can we tell? Like this:
It appears officials found many applications suspicious almost immediately, as the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office claimed it was asked to open an investigation into “potential criminal activity” back in June, according to CBS Minnesota. The sheriff’s office said it requested “pertinent documents” related to the case a month later, and once it receives all of those documents, it will open an investigation.
So, the Sheriff’s Office was contacted in June—that’s about 3.5 months ago, and they’re still waiting for “documents” from Hennepin County before they begin an investigation?
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that investigation, and considering that Hennepin County Prosecutor Mary Moriarty is arguably the most corrupt Soros prosecutor in America, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for prosecutions either.
At least Minnesota has something about which to chant: “We’re number one!”
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Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, lifelong athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer, and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
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