Eric Holder — who helped lead vetting for Democratic tickets in 2024 — publicly defended Minnesot a Governor Tim Walz’s vetting shortly before a sweeping fraud probe in the state surfaced. Prosecutors allege money-laundering and false claims tied to meal, housing and Medicaid programs that could total as much as $9 billion, and dozens have been charged, many from the Somali community. Walz has abandoned his re-election bid, called himself accountable but refused to resign, while Republicans demand his departure and Holder maintains the vetting was thorough.
Eric Holder Defended Tim Walz’s Vetting — Then Minnesota’s Multibillion-Dollar Fraud Probe Emerged
Former Attorney General Eric Holder led the vetting process for then-Vice President Kamala Harris' potential running mates that year before landing on Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder — a longtime ally of Barack Obama who helped lead vetting efforts for Democratic tickets — publicly defended Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s vetting as a vice presidential choice just weeks before a sprawling fraud investigation in the state drew national attention.
In an October 2024 interview on CNN, Holder said of the vetting team’s work:
“There’s nothing that of any substance that was missed by our vetting team.”
Scope And Allegations
Since that defense, Minnesota has been the focus of a wide-ranging probe into alleged schemes prosecutors say involved money laundering and fraudulent claims tied to meal programs, housing assistance, daycare services and Medicaid. Authorities and reporting have suggested potential losses could approach $9 billion, and dozens of people have been charged in the investigations — many of them from Minnesota’s Somali community, according to Fox News Digital.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's emergence as the vice presidential pick quickly drew scrutiny over a string of past controversies.
Political Fallout
The scandal led Walz to abandon his bid for a third term as governor. He has said he is “accountable” as the state’s top elected official but has resisted calls to resign, accusing political opponents of inflating figures related to the alleged fraud. At a press event he declared, “Over my dead body will that happen.”
Republican leaders pressed for his departure. Vice President J.D. Vance said at a White House briefing that Walz should step down, arguing state leaders could not plausibly have been unaware of fraud on such a scale.
What Vetters Knew
A source familiar with Walz’s vetting told Fox News Digital the fraud inquiry had already been included in vetting materials because preliminary details had surfaced during Walz’s 2022 re-election campaign. That source said Walz’s Department of Education had been in contact with the FBI about suspected diversion of child nutrition funds.
Gov. Tim Walz has come under scrutiny since the fraud issue came to light in Minnesota.
Holder — who helped vet running mates for Kamala Harris in 2024 and previously led vetting for the 2008 Obama campaign that ultimately selected Joe Biden — said he reviewed Walz’s record closely, including public appearances. He described Walz as "an authentic guy" whose misstatements, Holder said, were matters the governor had acknowledged and apologized for.
Previous Controversies And Context
Walz’s rapid rise to national prominence drew scrutiny over previous controversies, including questions about statements he made regarding his military service and other past misstatements. Critics on the right seized on those issues during the 2024 campaign, while Democrats emphasized his governing record, such as a 2023 law expanding free school meals for K–12 students.
Ongoing Investigations
Federal agents conducted operations in Minneapolis as the probes advanced. Separately, on Jan. 7 a fatal shooting occurred when a woman allegedly attempted to use her vehicle against immigration officers; the Department of Homeland Security described that incident as an act of domestic terrorism.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office and to former President Barack Obama’s office for comment regarding the vetting process but did not receive immediate responses. The investigations remain active, and prosecutors’ allegations have not been resolved in court.
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