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A House Oversight Committee hearing turned explosive Wednesday in an exchange between committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., over government funding cuts and extensive fraud schemes uncovered in Minnesota.
Instead of questioning witnesses about the fraud, Lee focused his allotted time on the Trump administration's government cuts. In particular, Lee criticized the decision last year to fire 17 inspectors general, independent officials appointed to detect fraud in the government.
“Trump has attacked oversight mechanisms within the federal government. He illegally fired 17 inspectors general and other key staff,” Lee said. “Republicans have turned a blind eye to all of this.”
MINNESOTA AG KEITH ELLISON DEFENDS PROCESS FOR FRAUD, SAYS OFFICE HAS DONE 'ENOUGH'
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., right, pictured with Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., left. (Fox News)
When Comer suggested that the 17 inspectors general had been fired by the administration precisely because they had failed to prevent frauds like the one in Minnesota, Lee unleashed the Kentucky Republican.
“You have failed!” Lee yelled at Comer.
“No, you have all failed,” Comer replied.
“No, you all continue to fail. You haven't done anything. You have the gavel, Mr. Comer. We barely have hearings on anything that affects change,” Lee said as the two began yelling at each other.
“As [can] Do you say we have failed? “You want to spend more money, more money, more money,” Comer said.
MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING CAUSES IMMIGRATION SHOCK AS GOP LAWMAN HIGHLIGHTS SOMALI WELFARE DATA
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to reporters at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, August 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The heated exchange came as the House Oversight Committee held a hearing Wednesday to take a closer look at sprawling plans in Minnesota that investigators believe may have robbed taxpayers of up to $9 billion.
In recent months, investigators have uncovered extensive fraud schemes disguised as daycares, medical providers and food assistance programs, siphoning off millions in government funds by fabricating services or inflating the number of people they claimed to serve.
While Republicans raised questions Wednesday about underlying patterns of fraud and Minnesota's oversight vulnerabilities, Democrats like Lee sought to direct questions back to the Trump administration.
EMMER WARNS WALZ COULD END UP 'HANDCUFFED' AMID FRAUD CLAIMS IN MINNESOTA
Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., questions witnesses during a panel discussion at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, June 11, 2024. (Jemal Condesa/Getty Images)
“This hearing today is not even about fraud. Republicans have cherry-picked a blue state and a vulnerable immigrant population to demonize,” Lee said in his remarks, referring to the Republican emphasis on the Somali community in Minnesota.
“You have failed,” Comer said one last time.
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“I give up,” Lee said angrily before finishing her comments.
