Testimony Given by Prof. Paul Vaaler Quoted in Star Tribune From Feeding Our Future Trial

Professor Paul Vaaler was quoted by the Star Tribune from testimony he provided in the Feeding Our Future federal fraud investigation. Attorneys for one of the defendants questioned Prof. Vaaler about his extensive research on migrants’ finances, related to their arguments that their defendants relied on informal transactions that aren’t reflected in the financial data prosecutors have relied on. In response, Vaaler said many refugees are more comfortable with informal transactions done with family or friends based on trust and verbal agreements, not detailed written contracts, and that while that may seem irregular to some, it isn’t illegal. “Your word is your bond,” he said. “Trust is so central to business transactions.”