GOP lawmaker demands Minnesota fraud be treated as 'organized crime' scheme

Republicans are demanding accountability over the Minnesota fraud scandal, accusing state Democrats of failing to prevent billions of dollars in taxpayer funds from being stolen. A Florida lawmaker is now calling for aggressive federal action, comparing the alleged fraud to "organized crime."

"This is what the mafia does. They steal, they lie, they cheat," Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., said on "Fox News Live" Thursday.

Prosecutors accuse Minnesota of widespread fraud involving child care and other social services, saying losses could reach into the billions.

 "We've spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It's a serious issue - but this has been his plan all along. He's politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans," Walz wrote on Tuesday.

Chaffetz said he believes more cases of fraud could come to light as scrutiny intensifies nationwide.

"I don't think this is just Minnesota. I think this is going to New York, Illinois, California, your usual suspects are [going to] be right there on the list," Chaffetz said.

President Donald Trump himself suggested the estimated fraud in Minnesota could be even larger than investigators believe, speaking to a crowd at a New Year's Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago.

"That's just what we're learning about. That's peanuts. And California is worse, Illinois is worse, and, sadly, New York is worse."