WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a "white-hot" confrontation on Capitol Hill, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison faced a barrage of accusations from top House Republicans on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. During a hearing before the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) accused Ellison of actively obstructing investigations into a massive welfare fraud scheme in exchange for campaign donations, posing the blunt question: "Got something to hide?"
The hearing, titled "Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II," focused on the staggering $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal and alleged mismanagement that may have put up to $9 billion in Medicaid funds at risk.
The "Strip Mall" Meeting and Secret Audio
The primary evidence cited by Republicans involves a controversial 2021 meeting between Ellison and individuals who were later convicted in the Feeding Our Future scheme.
- The Accusation: Rep. Tom Emmer alleged a "quid pro quo," suggesting Ellison offered protection to fraudsters in exchange for political contributions. "If these concerns are proven true, you should be disbarred and go to jail," Emmer stated during the hearing.
- The "Strip Mall" Defense: GOP lawmakers, including State Rep. Kristin Robbins, pointed to 2021 audio recordings where Ellison allegedly told Somali business leaders, some later identified as fraudsters, that he would "go to bat" for them against state agencies. Ellison claims he met them in their community, not his official office, because he believed they were legitimate business owners being unfairly targeted.
- The Timeline Clash: Republicans released a report claiming Ellison and Governor Tim Walz ignored credible fraud warnings as early as 2019, continuing payments to suspicious entities to avoid appearing discriminatory.
"Operation Metro Surge" and Federal Retribution
The fallout from the hearing has escalated into a direct conflict between the State of Minnesota and the Trump administration’s Department of Justice.
- Withheld Funds: The federal government recently withheld over $240 million in Medicaid funds from Minnesota as a penalty for the state's alleged failure to curb fraud.
- The Lawsuit: In response, Ellison and Walz announced this week that Minnesota is suing the federal government, framing the fund-withholding as "political punishment" and "retribution" against a Democratic state.
- The "Masked Agents": During his testimony, Gov. Walz accused the federal government of sending "masked, untrained, and unaccountable agents" into Minnesota communities under the guise of fraud prevention, leading to what he described as violations of constitutional rights.
Obstruction v. Aggressive Prosecution
The legal battle has now moved beyond the hearing room into the realm of potential criminal referrals and disbarment threats.
- The Obstruction Charge: House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) suggested that the committee’s findings point to a "sustained failure of leadership" that may warrant further legal action against state officials.
- Ellison’s Defense: Ellison has remained defiant, stating his office has prosecuted over 300 individuals related to various fraud cases. "These people were fraudsters. They were liars. They lied to me, they lied to courts, they lied to everyone," Ellison said of the Feeding Our Future suspects.
- Whistleblower Retaliation: A key component of the ongoing legal war involves allegations that whistleblowers who raised early alarms about the fraud were "retaliated against" by the Walz-Ellison administration.
"A Theatrical Performance of Lies"
Ellison has characterized the Republican-led hearings as a "theatrical performance" designed to smear his record and the state's reputation. He maintains that his office acted as quickly as the law allowed once the full scope of the deception became clear.
However, with the U.S. Treasury Department deploying "Financial Crimes Enforcement Network" software to track stolen funds and a potential subpoena looming for Ellison’s private communications, the "Legal War" over Minnesota’s taxpayer dollars is reaching a fever pitch. For Republicans, the goal is accountability; for Ellison, it is defending the sovereignty of his office against what he calls "federal overreach."