Gov. Tim Walz says he takes the blame for the massive wave of fraud

In what organizers with the Summit called an "exit interview," Walz told their Opinion Editor, Phil Morris, he takes the blame for the massive wave of fraud that has besieged state government over the last few years.

"Yep, I should have done more," Walz begins. "I should have been down on those agencies a little more, but I will tell you this, in the scheme of things, all the fraud that's been prosecuted, by the way, and all the fraud that's probably out there is less than the ballroom at the White House. So it puts it into perspective. It doesn't make it right. Doesn't make it right."

Walz said the fraud shouldn't taint what he has accomplished in office, however, and said he hopes Minnesotans will remember his administration’s other accomplishments. He pointed to free school meals, child tax credits, paid family leave, and most recently, added protections for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from mining interests.

Walz will finish serving eight years as Minnesota Governor in January.

This past January, Walz announced he would not pursue what would have been an unprecedented third consecutive term as Minnesota's governor. Pressure continued to mount after more fraud was announced by the U.S. Attorney's office in December, with Walz saying he couldn't give his all to another race.

“For the last several years, an organized group of criminals have sought to take advantage of our state’s generosity," he had announced in a statement. "And even as we make progress in the fight against the fraudsters, we now see an organized group of political actors seeking to take advantage of the crisis."

Republicans in the state, particularly his GOP opponents in the governor's race, blasted Walz repeatedly for allowing the fraud to happen under his watch. Walz called it political gamesmanship.