Democrats Block Republican Push to Impeach Gov. Walz and AG Ellison Over $9 Billion Fraud Scandal

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota House Democrats on the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to block a Republican-led resolution that would have launched formal impeachment investigations into Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison.

The committee deadlocked 8-8 along party lines on April 16, 2026, with all eight Democrats opposing the measure. The tie vote effectively killed the resolutions before they could reach the Republican-controlled House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee.

Republican resolutions HR6 (targeting Walz) and HR7 (targeting Ellison) sought to direct the Fraud Prevention Committee to investigate the officials and report back by May 1 with potential articles of impeachment or other recommendations. The push stemmed from reports of widespread fraud in state-administered programs during Walz’s tenure, with Republicans citing an estimated $9 billion in lost taxpayer dollars.

House Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, who co-chairs the Rules Committee, stated: “What most Minnesotans are demanding, especially today on tax day, is accountability for the multi-billion-dollar fraud scandal that’s embarrassing our state. In any well-functioning business, a multi-billion-dollar fraud scandal would result in the CEO either resigning in disgrace or being fired.”

Rep. Ben Davis, R-Merrifield, sponsor of the Ellison resolution, added: “We have a historic amount of fraud taking place in our state; historic actions are warranted.”

The Walz resolution accused the governor of failing to act on warnings about fraud, allowing misuse of taxpayer funds to continue, and placing political considerations above enforcement of the law. The Ellison resolution alleged “corrupt conduct in office and crimes and misdemeanors,” including failing to impartially enforce the law, undermining religious liberty protections, and suggesting political or financial influence over official actions.

Democrats dismissed the effort as a political stunt. Rep. Sydney Jordan, DFL-Minneapolis, called the resolutions a “simple, stupid distraction,” “garbage,” and a “political circus.” She said: “Have there been crimes, charges and convictions for our executives? No. Do we impeach Minnesota’s elected officials just because we don’t like them? No.”

Rep. Michael Howard, DFL-Richfield, said it was “tough to take this seriously,” while Rep. Nathan Coulter, DFL-Bloomington, labeled it “the most harebrained thing I think I have ever seen.”

Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, countered: “Holding people accountable for $9 billion of fraud I don’t see as harebrained and I don’t think the people of Minnesota do either. The people of this state want accountability.”

Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove and chair of the Fraud Prevention Committee, noted in an earlier interview that unanswered data requests from state agencies suggest “willful neglect and malfeasance” beyond simple mistakes.

With the Minnesota House evenly divided, Democrats hold enough votes in the Rules Committee to block such measures. The failed effort marks the latest Republican attempt to hold Walz and Ellison accountable through impeachment over the ongoing fraud issues.