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Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., denounced the fraud revealed in Minnesota during an appearance Wednesday on Theo Von’s podcast.
Von spoke to the senator about journalist Nick Shirley’s investigative videos that revealed allegations of massive fraud in Minnesota.
“You’ve got this guy who’s been going around, Nick Shirley, who’s like going door-to-door, like trick or treating, right? And clarifying,” Von said. “That’s almost like — it’s like, why should people pay taxes? Who cares about paying taxes if we’re just going to let them get off the ground?”
MINNESOTA CONVINCED OF FRAUD ALLEGING WALZ, ELLISON KNOWS FULLY
Bernie Sanders spoke on Theo Von’s podcast. (Screenshot/Theo Von’s YouTube channel)
“But, the answer is fraud is disgusting — and especially stealing money from hungry children,” Sanders responded. “If you have a program to feed hungry children, you’re stealing that money, maybe it’s worse, and I think a long time ago. [20]20s under Biden, they started an investigation. “
“Those people should be punished severely,” Sanders continued. “I don’t care if you’re Somali, if you’re blue, if you’re blue, or whatever.”
“Of course, I’m using the Somali fraud name because that’s the kind of name people use,” Von said.
“But still, that should be punished. That’s despicable behavior,” Sanders said. “But, you know, understand — and I’m sure you do — fraud is not just in the child nutrition system in Minnesota.”
Minnesota has been at the center of a national controversy as investigators at both the local and state levels have uncovered dozens of business fraud schemes, posing as child care centers, food programs, health clinics and more, that are accused of defrauding the state of up to $9 billion. In these cases, investigators say the fraudsters inflated the number of people they allegedly helped or completely faked their jobs — all while receiving government dollars.
WALZ’S MINNESOTA MESS COULD INCREASE THE WORST SCAM CHANGES IN YEARS.
Freelance reporter Nick Shirley speaks during a roundtable interview in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Oct. 8, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Sanders noted that billions are spent on the US military, where he said many major contractors were caught committing fraud.
“We spend three trillion dollars a year on the military, OK? Not one major defense contractor has ever been indicted for fraud… you know, providing fraud to the United States government. Their chief executives make huge compensation,” Sanders said. “They can’t even do independent research.”
“So they don’t even know what they have,” Sanders added. “I mean it’s huge. But no one, no one, no one, Republican, Democrat, independent, no one doubts that there is massive fraud. There is fraud everywhere, unfortunately, in this country, and we have to do everything we can to stop it.”
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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned the alleged fraud from Minnesota, but warned it was just one of dozens of fraud scandals across the country. (Drew Anger/Getty Images)
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Fox News’ Leo Briceno contributed to this report.
