Prof. Paul Vaaler Interviewed by KSTP News About Accuracy of $9 Billion Fraud Claim in Minnesota

Professor Paul Vaaler, John and Bruce Mooty Chair in Law and Business, was interviewed by KSTP News about the $9 billion figure that is often cited in Minnesota fraud cases. So far, fraud cases that have prosecuted total less than $500 million. The $9 billion figure stems from a comment from then U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson made last December when asked to estimate the amount of Medicaid dollars that had been stolen. Since then, elected officials have kept repeating the figure, along with those running for office this fall. Prof. Vaaler said of the figure, “Hype and hyperbole have always been part of partisan politics. That’s not going to go away.” Prof. Vaaler testified in the Feeding Our Future trial as an expert witness on East African immigrants from places like Somalia. He said speculation about the amount of money being sent to Somalia and other countries is likely exaggerated. He said, “We’re learning more and more through investigations. It’s going to give us a number. The number is not going to be anywhere near the kind of speculation you’ve heard in St. Paul or in Washington. That one I think we can bet on.” Watch the video.