A group of Minnesota Republican lawmakers has formally called for Democratic Governor Tim Walz to resign amid an escalating fraud scandal that could cost taxpayers up to $9 billion, according to recent federal investigations.

In a statement released Monday, state Senators Bill Lieske and Nathan Wesenberg, alongside state Representatives Marj Fogelman, Drew Roach, and Mike Wiener, cited the governor’s failure to address years of mounting fraud as grounds for his departure.

“Minnesotans have been watching the fraud crisis get worse and worse for years. It has gone on long enough,” the legislators stated. “This is not about politics or stunts, and we do not make a call like this lightly. The office of the governor deserves respect, and we have tried to give Gov. Walz time to act.”

The lawmakers referenced Article 8, Section 6 of the Minnesota Constitution, which outlines “serious malfeasance in the performance of official duties” as justification for recalling executive officers, though they stopped short of initiating a formal recall process.

Federal prosecutors recently revealed that fraud primarily concentrated within Minnesota’s Somali community could reach as high as $9 billion in taxpayer funds. The scandal has drawn national attention following a viral video by journalist Nick Shirley that has garnered more than 100 million views on X (formerly Twitter). The video highlighted suspected fraudulent daycare locations throughout the state, intensifying scrutiny of Walz’s administration.

“We are talking about billions of dollars in fraud that should have gone to vulnerable Minnesotans,” the lawmakers continued. “The red flags were everywhere. Yet, year after year, the fraud kept growing, and year after year, nothing changed.”

The Republican legislators claimed the fraud scandal has become the primary concern among their constituents, who frequently question why no high-ranking officials have faced consequences for the massive financial losses.

Governor Walz’s office has defended his record on fraud prevention, with a spokesperson stating: “The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action.” The statement outlined several measures Walz has implemented, including launching investigations into specific facilities, hiring an outside firm to audit high-risk programs, shutting down the Housing Stabilization Services program, appointing a statewide program integrity director, and supporting criminal prosecutions.

The calls for Walz’s resignation extend beyond state lawmakers. Earlier this month, former Trump Education Secretary Linda McMahon also urged the governor to step down over his handling of the situation.

“What we are seeing from the governor is what nonfeasance looks like,” the Minnesota lawmakers wrote. “When a governor fails to do what he is required to do, when he watches a crisis spiral out of control and does nothing to stop it, that is nonfeasance. The governor had a duty to oversee his administration and protect these programs. He failed.”

This scandal comes at a particularly sensitive time for Walz, who has gained national prominence as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee alongside Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. The growing controversy in his home state presents a potential political liability for the Harris-Walz campaign as they make their case to voters nationwide.

The Republican lawmakers concluded their statement by asserting: “For the good of the state, Gov. Walz should step aside. Minnesota needs accountability, a reset, and new leadership that can get us back on the right track.”