Top Republican admits GOP steered YouTuber in viral fraud video

A top Republican in Minnesota recently admitted to "steering" the viral fraud video that sparked recent controversy about the state's social programs.

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth said during the weekly Republican legislative press conference that the party told right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley which child care centers he should visit. Each of the centers received federal money and recently had "operations or payments suspended," according to a report by MN Public Radio.

“Fraud needs to end in the state,” Demuth said during the press conference. “And if this is what it takes, since there's been inaction by our current governor, then this is where we're at.”

Shirley's video has been at the center of recent controversy over fraud perpetrated by Somali immigrants in Minnesota. The Trump administration has latched onto the story as it seeks to change the topic from the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files, some of which cast President Donald Trump's relationship with the convicted sex criminal in a negative light.

While the video is alleged to have discovered more than $100 million in new fraud at Minnesota child care centers, officials have said the investigation into the centers has been ongoing for a while. More than 70 people were convicted of fraud during the Biden administration, a fact acknowledged by Trump administration officials.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, has also said the state has been investigating the cases for "years."

The Trump administration has paused all federal funding to Minnesota over the issue.