A resolution to forward articles of impeachment against Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison failed on an 8-8 tie vote in the Minnesota House Rules and Administration Committee, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against.
If the resolution passed, it would have sent impeachment articles to the House Fraud Committee for more investigation and eventually a possible vote on the House floor.
“We do not have the power to arrest or prosecute for crimes, but Article 8 of the Minnesota Constitution gives the House quote sole power of impeachment,” said Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, House Rules and Administration Committee co-chair.
The resolution for impeachment was brought by Republican Representatives Mike Wiener of Long Prairie and Ben Davis of Merrifield.
“The Walz administration turned a blind eye to countless whistleblower reports,” Wiener testified. “Employees who attempted to stop the fraud were marginalized or threatened.”
One whistleblower testified before the committee about her time working at the Department of Human Services.
The resolution against Ellison focuses largely on a meeting he had in 2021 during the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation.
“The people of Minnesota deserve to know why their attorney general sat down with individuals tied directly to the Feeding our Future fraud network,” said Rep. Davis.
Republicans also claim Ellison solicited campaign donations from fraud suspects. Ellison denies that happened.
At an event in Rochester, Walz responded to the impeachment attempt.
“I would just encourage those legislators to get out of the basement of the Capitol where they are putting on a little play,” Walz said. “They know, and I know it’s more likely the sun will rise in the west than that will happen and go anywhere.”
Walz also questioned why Republicans are spending time on impeachment that had little chance of happening instead of working on important legislation in the last month of the session. “Talk about a waste of time. I’m gone in eight months. Just get over it and move on and do some work for your constituents that you were elected to do.”
Niska said the impeachment attempt is not a waste of time. “Minnesotans really want us to have some accountability for the multi-billion-dollar fraud scandal,” he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS after the hearing.
House Rules Committee Co-chair Rep. Jamie Long was asked if he thinks enough has been done to hold Walz and Ellison accountable for fraud that happened on their watch.
“Gov. Walz has chosen not to run again,” he responded. “Attorney General Ellison is up for reelection in seven months; that will be up for the voters to decide.
Although the initial effort to impeach Walz and Ellison failed, supporters of the idea say they are looking for other avenues to continue pursuit of impeachment.
