Minnesota State Senator Michael Holmstrom has described allegations of widespread social services fraud in his state as a “black eye,” blaming Governor Tim Walz for failing to stop it and local media outlets for inadequate coverage.
Speaking on Thursday, the Republican lawmaker predicted that the controversy could shift Minnesota politics, stating Republicans are “only in the minority by one vote” in the legislature. “This is the year that Minnesota turns red,” he said.
Holmstrom’s comments follow a viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley that drew national attention to claims of illegal activity and misuse of taxpayer funds in Minnesota, prompting a major federal response. The senator claimed local news outlets have downplayed the story for years. “It’s because the Star Tribune and the local media are a part of the Democrat Party here in Minnesota,” he said. “They actually just put out a year-end report of 2025 of all the big stories, and fraud didn’t even make the list.”
He criticized journalists for not conducting their own on-the-ground reporting. “If they want questions to be asked on their terms, they should do an investigation, but they don’t want to because it makes their friends look bad,” he said.
The discussion also turned to an alleged break-in at a daycare featured in the video. After a daycare manager reported that paperwork was taken, Holmstrom dismissed claims that the vandalism was politically motivated. He also addressed reports that Shirley has received death threats, stating retaliation is common when people expose waste and fraud. “Whenever someone makes ground in here, they get death threats, they get serious death threats, they get swatted, they get retaliation,” he said. “Nick Shirley is over the target, and that’s the reason they’re targeting him right now.”
