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TIL there’s something called fraud tourism. Congrats, Minnesota.


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Posted
Just now, 956 Worldwide said:

You completely misrepresented the funds being discussed and the blamed the tweet for it. 

How did I misrepresent anything? I was talking about the article and the tweet. I wasn't talking about everything else happening in Minnesota. The tweet by the company that published the article was incorrect and misleading. You've agreed with that. I don't understand why you're upset that I've pointed it out. 

The article is about two things:

1) 5 new defendants being indicted for a few million dollars in fraud;

2) Suggestions (not even allegations) by the prosecutor that there may be $9 billion in fraud.

The $9 billion isn't indicted. It isn't supported by any alleged facts. The sum total of his belief for that statement appears to be a cursory review of some billing data. That's a problem and not proper behavior by an officer of the court. 

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Posted (edited)
34 minutes ago, Dahobbs said:

How did I misrepresent anything? I was talking about the article and the tweet. I wasn't talking about everything else happening in Minnesota. The tweet by the company that published the article was incorrect and misleading. You've agreed with that. I don't understand why you're upset that I've pointed it out. 

The article is about two things:

1) 5 new defendants being indicted for a few million dollars in fraud;

2) Suggestions (not even allegations) by the prosecutor that there may be $9 billion in fraud.

The $9 billion isn't indicted. It isn't supported by any alleged facts. The sum total of his belief for that statement appears to be a cursory review of some billing data. That's a problem and not proper behavior by an officer of the court. 

You also alleged that Walz was misquoted in agreeing that fraud could reach over one billion. For no reason other than than that “you couldn’t find it,” and it’s not like this is some uber lib or con rag. Anyway, here he is saying it:

Clip starts at 30:35. 

Reporter: “Joe Thompson said that fraud could surpass one billion in Minnesota. Do you agree with that number?”

Walz: “Yes.” 

You are correct that the Star-Tribune analysis counts formal charges in addition to guilty verdicts and pleas. (It is much easier to say that since I am not a lawyer.)

So I will rework my statement: an analysis of all charges brought in RICO cases against mafia figures and the dollar amount involved would be interesting. I would never attempt to say that the figure represents something like a useful guide to mafia theft and corruption. It’s really silly to think so. And I don’t expect the Star-Tribune analysis of charges to get close to the real amount of fraud perpetrated on Minnesota DHS. 

So what we know is that Walz agreed that fraud could go over a billion. Now he disagrees with Thompson that it may be 9 billion. The real amount surely can’t be known. 

Maybe somewhere between 217 million and 9 billion we reach something that’s worth more concern than a misleading tweet. 

Edited by 956 Worldwide
Posted
4 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

You also alleged that Walz was misquoted in agreeing that fraud could reach over one billion. For no reason other than than that “you couldn’t find it,” and it’s not like this is some uber lib or con rag. Anyway, here he is saying it:

Clip starts at 30:35. 

Reporter: “Joe Thompson said that fraud could surpass one billion in Minnesota. Do you agree with that number?”

Walz: “Yes.” 

You are correct that the Star-Tribune analysis counts formal charges in addition to guilty verdicts and pleas. (It is much easier to say that since I am not a lawyer.)

So I will rework my statement: an analysis of all charges brought in RICO cases against mafia figures and the dollar amount involved would be interesting. I would never attempt to say that the figure represents something like a useful guide to mafia theft and corruption. It’s really silly to think so. And I don’t expect the Star-Tribune analysis of charges to get close to the real amount of fraud perpetrated on Minnesota DHS. 

So what we know is that Walz agreed that fraud could go over a billion. Now he disagrees with Thompson that it may be 9 billion. The real amount surely can’t be known. 

Maybe somewhere between 217 million and 9 billion we reach something that’s worth more concern than a misleading tweet. 

1. I never said I wasn't concerned about fraud. I've said multiple times that I am and I want it prosecuted. But when an article (or the tween introducing an article from the company publishing it) is misleading, it raises my suspicions about the other parts of it. 

2. Thank you for providing a source for the quote. That is what I asked for. As I said, I couldn't find the source for it. I looked up other statements that were less specific, which is why I questioned what the article was referring to.

3. As a lawyer, I'm sensitive to the legal side of this, and the politicization of the DOJ and the justice system more broadly. Fraud is Minnesota is bad for Minnesota. I don't live there so I don't have a real connection or interest in it. Politicization of the justice system is bad everyone, is happening, and this appeared to be an extension of it. 

It is possible for multiple things to be true at the same time. There can be real and significant fraud and waste in Minnesota, and the weaponization of the justice system to stretch that issue for political gain can also be a significant problem. 

 

 

 

Posted
21 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Maybe somewhere between 217 million and 9 billion we reach something that’s worth more concern than a misleading tweet. 

This is just dumb. It is nowhere close to 9B the assertion is absurd on its face. That number was picked, and placed as it was in the CBS headline the way it was, and posted here by GRU, to fan anti Somali hatred and resentment. Don’t fall for the banana in the tailpipe 

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Posted
8 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

This is just dumb. It is nowhere close to 9B the assertion is absurd on its face. That number was picked, and placed as it was in the CBS headline the way it was, and posted here by GRU, to fan anti Somali hatred and resentment. Don’t fall for the banana in the tailpipe 

Yep, it's like a lot of things Trump.  Somewhere buried in all the bullshit, there's a nugget of truth.

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Posted
29 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

This is just dumb. It is nowhere close to 9B the assertion is absurd on its face. That number was picked, and placed as it was in the CBS headline the way it was, and posted here by GRU, to fan anti Somali hatred and resentment. Don’t fall for the banana in the tailpipe 

I will concur with Walz that it’s likely above $1 billion. We will see where it stops. Even  that figure is frankly obscene, but completely unsurprising as I’ve seen similar combinations of factors result in absurd amounts of ignored criminality. 
 

Even “only” $215 million across 77 conspirators is astonishing. It requires vast community-level complicity combined with willful ignorance at the bureaucratic level. It is extremely difficult to find 76 people willing to go in on a “defraud the government” scheme absent some very unique community factors. 

Posted
1 minute ago, 956 Worldwide said:

I will concur with Walz that it’s likely above $1 billion. We will see where it stops. Even  that figure is frankly obscene, but completely unsurprising as I’ve seen similar combinations of factors result in absurd amounts of ignored criminality. 
 

Even “only” $215 million across 77 conspirators is astonishing. It requires vast community-level complicity combined with willful ignorance at the bureaucratic level. It is extremely difficult to find 76 people willing to go in on a “defraud the government” scheme absent some very unique community factors. 

What very unique community factors did it take for Senator (former governor) Rick Scott to get to 2B 🧐

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Posted
16 minutes ago, Sawbonz said:

What very unique community factors did it take for Senator (former governor) Rick Scott to get to 2B 🧐

You will get no argument from me that a culture of complete dependence on government largesse, a political sense of untouchability, and a feeling that “everyone else is doing it, I’m missing out if I don’t” has created a deeply corrupt set of people in high-level health care executives. 
 



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