• Facebook
• Twitter
• Threads
• Flipboard
• Comments
• Print
• Email
• Add Fox News on Google

BREAKING: Feds investigate Minnesota fraud after viral video

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says federal agents are being deployed to Minnesota to investigate allegations of widespread fraud.

Politico reporter Josh Gerstein faced blowback on social media after he suggested that, "at some point, the amateur effort to knock on doors" of home daycare centers in Minnesota would intersect with the state's "robust stand-your-ground laws."

Gerstein’s Monday night post on X appeared to reference an investigation by independent journalist Nick Shirley on alleged widespread fraud at Minnesota daycare centers, which went viral earlier this week.

In the 42-minute video posted to X and YouTube, Shirley documented visits to several daycare centers in the blue state, many of which appeared largely inactive despite continuing to receive state funding.

CNN'S ABBY PHILLIP CALLS NOTION THAT 'NO ONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE' FOR MINNESOTA FRAUD 'COMPLETELY FALSE'

Homeland Security investigators were part of a large fraud investigation on Monday in Minneapolis following the release of a video over the weekend on alleged day care fraud.  (Department of Homeland Security)

X users were quick to criticize the Politico reporter, accusing him of suggesting home daycare operators could invoke stand-your-ground laws to deter journalists from investigating allegations of fraud.

One commenter slammed Gerstein for "inciting people to shoot journalists investigating fraud," while keeping the threat "veiled enough" to avoid legal consequences.

"'It’s legal to shoot journalists' is certainly an interesting take from Politico," Author Daniel Friedman commented under Gerstein's post.

STATE OFFICIALS AND DAYCARE MANAGER PUSH BACK ON VIRAL VIDEO FRAUD ALLEGATIONS IN MINNESOTA

Politico's logo on their website. (Screenshot/Politico)

Gerstein, who works as Politico's senior legal affairs reporter, was also mocked for his understanding of Minnesota's gun laws. One commenter told the reporter, "Not in Minnesota you ill informed putz. Minnesota is a duty to retreat state," to which Gerstein replied, "Not in your home."

While Minnesota is not a stand-your-ground state, the state does follow the Castle Doctrine at home — so a person is not required to retreat from an intruder in their house — but outside the home, Minnesota law generally requires individuals to retreat if it is safe to do so before using force.

WTB Radio host Pete Kaliner touched on this exact distinction, asking, "Shouldn't a legal affairs reporter know the difference between stand-your-ground law and castle doctrine?"

SOMALI MINNESOTANS BEING 'SCAPEGOATED' IN FRAUD INVESTIGATION, NYT WRITER CLAIMS

Conservative commentator Eddie Scarry offered a similar criticism of Gerstein, quipping that it's "fascinating" a legal affairs reporter would think "that’s what stand your ground laws permit."

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck jokingly asked Gerstein if the state's gun laws were the reason Politico "didn’t try to expose the fraud" allegedly taking place in Minnesota's daycares.

"We've reached the 'why don't we just shoot these people who are embarrassing us' phase," historian Carl Paulus wrote.

Politico and Gerstein did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security in a Minneapolis store. The agency on Tuesday said it had launched an operation to identify, arrest, and remove criminals who are suspected of fraud.  (Department of Homeland Security)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

• ·大乐透头奖3注1000万无追加 奖池余额8.50亿元
• ·3.15亿！中铁市政环境建设联合上海市政总院中标银川水厂EPC
• ·宁波首个！电竞大赛有了专业场馆
• ·饥不择食时也不要吃的十种食品
• ·Clooney says ABC, CBS should have told Trump to ‘go f
• ·หุ้นไทยปิดภาคบ่ายวันนี้ +1.43 จุด มูลค่าซื้อขายรวม 31,407.37 ล.
• ·Bảng huy chương của đoàn Việt Nam tại SEA Games 33 phân theo môn
• ·谷歌输入法怎么手写输入
• ·足彩头奖空开二等63万滚存1034万 本周六派1200万
• ·田径世锦赛爆发病毒感染 欧洲田联主席感染肠胃病毒
• ·莆田特色小吃干炸荔枝肉 干炸外酥里嫩块块香
• ·博尔特交出200米霸者席位 博尔特十年统治男子200米铁项
• ·凯悦旗下全新品牌凯悦奕选（Unscripted by Hyatt）全球首秀，越南原创品牌 Wink 加入凯悦天地
• ·传奇SF中的职业对比：为何法师最为辛劳？
• ·เหตุใดนานาชาติ อาจไม่ค่อยเห็นใจไทย ในความขัดแย้งกับกัมพูชา
• ·无人驾驶环卫装备迈入应用新阶段！环境与仙途智能“1+1模式” 打造新质生产力