Keith Ellison

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer warned that a welfare fraud scandal under Gov. Tim Walz's administration will negatively impact Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan's Senate race. The alleged fraud involved millions of taxpayer dollars through state programs and was connected to groups like Feeding Our Future, resulting in multiple indictments. Both Walsh and Ellison have been accused by others of dismissing the severity of the scandal.

The welfare fraud scandal that rocked Minnesota's state government is predicted to become a central issue in Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s open Senate race. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer stated that rampant fraud under the administration will taint her campaign, noting that founder Aimee Bock was indicted for a scheme affecting some $250 million in taxpayer funds.

Mayor Jacob Frey proposed a $2.3 million budget that includes an 11.3% property tax increase, while several Minnesota cities are canceling contracts with Flock Safety. Concerns arose regarding ICE's shock gloves after a lawsuit alleged a death in Richmond, Kentucky. Furthermore, Keith Ellison and John Choi filed lawsuits against two Somali gangs concerning the State Fair.

Cedrick Frazier and Anders Folk advanced through Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary for Hennepin County Attorney, setting up a November race. Frazier took first place with 35.95% of the vote, while Folk brought in 22.86%. The election is framed as potentially serving as a referendum on Mary Moriarty's progressive policies.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office claims $90 million in judgments against Medicaid fraudsters, but court records show only about $3 million has been repaid since 2019. The AG's office does not handle restitution collections, and it disputes the accuracy of the repayment figures, citing a lack of responsibility for tracking actual payments.

A Minnesota court denied X.AI's request for a temporary restraining order, allowing the state's AI nudification ban to take effect on August 1. The law prohibits software that digitally alters images or videos to make people appear nude without consent, with X.AI challenging it as an overbroad free speech restriction. The lawsuit will continue with briefings and hearings scheduled for next month.

Minnesota's Medicaid fraud convictions often result in reduced or dismissed felony charges due to sentencing options like stay of imposition and stay of adjudication. Nearly 80% of offenders in analyzed cases avoided permanent felony convictions after probation, despite being barred from Medicaid-related jobs and required to pay restitution.

A witness to a fatal ICE shooting in Houston was released from immigration detention after weeks in custody. The witness, Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, disputed the Trump administration's account of the July 7 shooting that killed van driver Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. A federal judge ordered his release, citing legal arguments against deportation, while prosecutors sought an appeal.

Elon Musk’s xAI has sued Minnesota over its first-in-the-nation law banning AI-generated 'nudification' technology, arguing the law is overly broad and unconstitutional. The lawsuit claims the law imposes a $500,000 penalty per violation and restricts constitutionally protected content, while Minnesota’s attorney general condemned AI-generated nude images as harmful. The law, set to take effect soon, prohibits using AI to create fake nude images of real people without consent.

Elon Musk's company X.AI has sued Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison over a state law imposing a $500,000 penalty for AI-generated 'nudification' content. The law, passed unanimously by the state legislature, is challenged as an overbroad free speech restriction, while Ellison defends it as necessary to prevent harm.

A federal judge in Houston ordered the Department of Homeland Security to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a witness to a fatal shooting by federal immigration officers earlier this month. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ruled the detention of Rojas Pliego unconstitutional.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a bipartisan coalition of 50 attorneys general urging the Federal Communications Commission to strengthen 'Know Your Customer' rules to block illegal robocalls. The coalition cited over 29.6 billion scam robocalls and texts in the U.S. last year, resulting in nearly $2 billion in losses.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Minnesota’s law banning prediction markets before it could take effect, citing potential harm to operators like Kalshi and Polymarket. The decision highlights a legal dispute over whether federal or state authorities regulate these platforms, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and companies arguing for federal jurisdiction.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Minnesota's law banning prediction markets, citing potential irreparable harm to operators like Kalshi and Polymarket. The decision supports federal jurisdiction claims by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, while Minnesota argues prediction markets fall under state gambling regulations. Similar lawsuits are ongoing as states and the federal government clash over regulatory authority.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Minnesota's first-in-the-nation law banning prediction markets before it could take effect, citing potential irreparable harm to operators like Kalshi and Polymarket. The decision aligns with arguments by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the companies that federal law, not state regulations, governs these markets. Minnesota’s attorney general disputes the ruling, calling prediction markets 'gambling' and asserting state regulatory authority.

A federal judge ordered U.S. immigration authorities to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a key witness in the fatal shooting of Mexican homebuilder Lorenzo Araujo Salgado by an ICE officer during a traffic stop. The incident, which occurred amid a mass deportation campaign, led to protests and conflicting accounts of whether Salgado weaponized his vehicle.

A KSTP/SurveyUSA poll indicates lower primary voter turnout compared to the November election in Minnesota, with 15% more respondents planning to vote in November. Inflation/cost of living remains the top issue but has slightly decreased in priority, while fraud emerged as a significant concern for 16% of voters.

Early in-person voting for Minnesota’s August primary election has begun, allowing voters to cast ballots in person at local sites. Key races include the Republican governor primary with Kendall Qualls, Lisa Demuth, and Mike Lindell, and the DFL Senate primary between Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar leads Democrats in the gubernatorial race, while Keith Ellison is ahead of Ron Schutz in the attorney general race.

A federal judge barred the deportation of Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a witness in the fatal shooting of Mexican homebuilder Lorenzo Araujo Salgado by ICE officers during a traffic stop in Houston. The judge ordered Rojas Pliego to remain in the Southern District of Texas while his habeas petition is pending, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stating it will comply with the court order. The case involves disputes over the shooting's circumstances and the legal status of the passengers in the vehicle.

Governor Tim Walz's approval rating has dropped to -12, with 16% strong approval and 39% strong disapproval. President Donald Trump's approval rebounded slightly to -20, with 17% strong approval and 47% strong disapproval. Other Minnesota leaders like Amy Klobuchar and Keith Ellison also show declining approval ratings, while the state legislature's rating fell to -15.

A federal judge dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit challenging Minnesota’s sanctuary city policies, ruling that requiring state and local officials to enforce federal immigration law violates the Tenth Amendment. The judge rejected claims of federal preemption, stating immigration detainers are voluntary and Minnesota’s data-sharing restrictions do not discriminate against the federal government.

Minnesota joined a $29.6 million nationwide settlement with Glenmark over allegations of price fixing in generic prescription drugs. The state's share is $187,000, part of over $560,000 recovered from settlements with multiple drug makers. Consumers who purchased drugs from these companies between 2009 and 2019 may be eligible for compensation.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer Loon (Maduro Distributors Inc.) for allegedly marketing flavored vapes to children using enticing flavors and characters. The lawsuit claims Loon falsely presented its products as FDA-approved when they are unauthorized and violates a 2024 Minnesota law prohibiting youth-targeted e-cigarette marketing.

Gov. Tim Walz defends his vote to pardon Tou Lue Vang, a man convicted of molesting a 10-year-old child, despite Vang's subsequent deportation. The pardon was approved by Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, with Walz citing victim advocacy as a key factor. Homeland Security criticized the pardon as an attempt to block deportation, but Walz argued it did not release Vang from his supervised probation sentence, completed in 2019.

Minnesota prosecutors announced they obtained evidence from the federal government in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge. The evidence includes body camera footage, officer statements, and a vehicle involved, which the federal government had previously withheld. State authorities and the federal government are engaged in a legal dispute over evidence sharing, with some cooperation now achieved.

Minnesota prosecutors obtained previously withheld evidence, including hard drives and physical items like Renee Good’s car, in investigations into the fatal shootings of Good and Alex Pretti during protests against federal immigration enforcement in January. The evidence retrieval followed cooperation with federal partners and addresses prior withholding by officials.

Minnesota prosecutors have obtained previously withheld evidence in the investigations into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during anti-immigration protests. Federal officials had withheld statements, body camera videos, and physical evidence, including Good’s car, leading to calls for transparency and cooperation.

Minnesota prosecutors obtained previously withheld evidence, including hard drives and physical items, in the investigation into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during anti-immigration enforcement protests. Federal officials had delayed sharing statements, body camera videos, and Good’s car, sparking criticism from state officials.

Minnesota prosecutors obtained withheld evidence in the investigation into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during anti-immigration enforcement protests. The evidence includes hard drives, body camera videos, and Good's car, which was previously withheld by federal officials for over half a year.

Tim Walz's board pardoned Tue Lue Vang, an illegal immigrant convicted of repeatedly raping a child, due to immigration concerns despite opposition. The Minnesota Clemency Review Commission recommended the pardon, and the board approved it, allowing Vang to avoid deportation. Critics, including a state prosecutor and Homeland Security, condemned the decision as protecting a criminal.

A 42-year-old Laotian national convicted of repeatedly raping a child was pardoned by Minnesota's board of pardons after the clemency commission cited 'immigration concerns.' The commission voted 4-2 in favor, with some commissioners noting the applicant's six children and potential deportation risks, while opponents highlighted the severity of the offense. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security criticized the decision as protecting 'criminal illegal aliens.'

Minnesota's state Conviction Review Unit (CRU) was suspended after the federal government stopped funding it, leaving Hennepin County's Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) as the only entity in the state reviewing claims of wrongful conviction. The shutdown affects about 160 incarcerated individuals seeking review, but Hennepin County can only process cases originating from its jurisdiction.

Minnesota will receive over $850,000 from a $36.5 million national settlement with CVS Health Corporation over insulin billing fraud. The settlement addresses CVS's over-billing of government-funded healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

John Deere settled an antitrust lawsuit with five states and the FTC, agreeing to provide independent repair shops access to its proprietary diagnostic tools for 10 years. The settlement addresses allegations that the company restricted farmers' ability to repair equipment through non-authorized dealers, driving up costs.

Cash App’s parent company, Block, agreed to a $45 million multistate settlement over allegations of misleading users about the app’s safety and failing to protect them from fraud. Minnesota will receive approximately $639,000 (1.5% of the settlement), with the company committing to improved customer support and up to $120 million in consumer restitution through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the suspension of the Conviction Review Unit (CRU) after the federal government refused to renew its grant. The office cited budget constraints as the reason, noting that financial limitations prevent maintaining the program without compromising other responsibilities. The CRU, which reviewed potential wrongful convictions, had been funded by a federal grant awarded to The Great North Innocence Project.

Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, pardoned Tou Lue Vang, a Laos national convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in 2006, preventing his deportation. The Minnesota Board of Pardons, led by Walz, granted the pardon after the Clemency Review Commission's recommendation, sparking criticism from U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Board of Pardons granted a pardon to Tou Lue Vang, a Laos national convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against a 10-year-old girl in 2006. The pardon, recommended by the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission, allows Vang to avoid deportation despite his conviction and loss of legal status following the crime.

A Granite Falls man was sentenced to over 106 years in prison for 27 counts of criminal sexual conduct, with assaults occurring from July 2022 to December 2023. The Minnesota Attorney General's Office described the crimes as violent, involving physical harm and blackmail through recorded footage.

Early voting in Minnesota for the August primary begins Friday, allowing voters to cast ballots by mail or in person. Key races include the gubernatorial primary with candidates like Mike Lindell and Amy Klobuchar, and Senate and Attorney General contests.