Things got super spicy at Wednesday's House Oversight Committee hearing on the Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota. A panel of expert witnesses attempted to explain the extent of the fraud, which saw owners of "ghost" businesses swindle taxpayers out of an estimated $9 billion. One witness for the Democrats, former Justice Department official Brendan Ballou, got more than he bargained for when it came time for Republican Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26) to ask questions.
Gill is in his first term in Congress, and has quickly gained a reputation for asking rapid-fire and pointed questions of panelists at House hearings. He'd only been in office for a few months when he went viral for his heated exchange with the now-former CEO of NPR, Katherine Maher. Gill, as the kids like to say, brought the receipts and proceeded to humiliate Maher with some past statements she had made about the editorial direction of NPR that conflicted with her testimony. It was glorious.
That same heat was on display at Wednesday's hearing as Republicans push to get some answers on why the fraud was allowed to go on for so long and why Democrat Gov. Tim Walz did nothing to stop it once prosecutions of the fraudsters begans. Democrat witness Ballou didn't see Gill coming, and was left stammering once the questions began to fly.
WATCH IN FULL: @RepBrandonGill's DAMNING line of questioning during today's Oversight hearing on Minnesota fraud.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 7, 2026
This is EXACTLY how it's done!
TAKE NOTES, Republicans!
🔥 pic.twitter.com/mhcl4M3Zys
Top of mind for Gill seemed to be how much of the state's resources, aside from the fraudulent activity, are being drained by the Somali community living there. "Do you know what percentage of Somali-headed households in Minnesota are on food stamps? 54%," Gill asked Ballou.
Gill was just getting started.
"Do you know what that number is for native Minnesota-headed households?" Gill asked.
Ballou began to respond but was cut off by more questions from Gill.
"Well, to be clear, a majority of —" Ballou began.
"It's 7%," Gill interjected. "There's a big difference between 54% and 7%, no?"
"You're using the phrase ‘native Minnesotans’ — the majority of Somali Minnesotans are as Minnesotan as any of us. They were born in the United States," Ballou fired back, noting that there could be some overlap between Gill's numbers.
That distinction was irrelevant to the congressman, who pushed on. "What percentage of Somali-headed households are on welfare in general? It's 81%," Gill questioned. "After ten years of being in the United States, what percentage of Somali immigrant households continue to be on welfare? The number is 78%." He was clearly astounded at the lack of integration into American society by Minnesota's Somali community, stating, "Doesn't sound like something that makes our country stronger to me. And I think most Americans would agree with me on that."
When the questioning pivoted to Republican witness Walter Hudson, a Republican Minnesota state representative, it became abundantly clear why Minnesota Democrats are willing to turn a blind eye to the Somali fraud: votes. "Would you say this is, that the Somali population is an important demographic for Democrats to win over politically?" Gill asked Hudson. Hudson responded, "Unquestionably."
Boom: DC Hearings Will Target Walz, Ellison Over ‘Asleep or Complicit’ Roles in Somali Fraud Scandal
Hudson responded in the affirmative when Gill asked, "Do you think it would have hurt Democrats' political standing with the Somali population to investigate this fraud? You're saying that there was a political incentive to cover up widespread Somali fraud. Is that right?"
Anyone paying attention already knew that the Democrats are neck-deep in the fraud because it benefits them politically, but Rep. Gill's questioning is a masterclass in how to push for answers and hold the guilty accountable. If more Republicans were as dogged as Gill, perhaps there'd be less taxpayer money being fraudulently funneled into Democrat coffers.
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