Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Responds to Fraud Concerns
Rebecca Downs /
Allegations of government-funded entities defrauding the taxpayer have made it to Ohio where Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, is attempting to shore up public confidence in the government’s anti-fraud efforts.
DeWine’s efforts, from press conferences to podcast appearances, come on the heels of concerns that child care centers in Columbus could be committing fraud, as recent reporting exposed large-scale fraud perpetrated by Somali-owned and operated child care centers in Minnesota.
Minnesota Fraud Fallout Hits Ohio
After news broke that Minnesota taxpayers had been defrauded to the tune of millions, some Ohioans questioned if the same problem had reached the Buckeye State.
The Daily Signal was the first to report that Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican, was leading an effort to ensure Ohio is free of the fraud that has plagued Minnesota. Williams sent a letter signed by dozens of other lawmakers to the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
The legislators are calling for “unannounced inspections” of daycare facilities that may be suspected of fraud in the Columbus area.
DeWine planned to address the public’s concern in a press conference, but statements made by DeWine’s deputy director of media relations, Dan Tierney, to The Columbus Dispatch and Cleveland.com garnered attention on social media.
The Governor’s Office Responds to Allegations of Fraud
The Daily Signal reached out to the governor’s office for a response. Tierney told The Daily Signal that the excerpts were “taken out of context” and “selectively quoted.”
“Regarding the social media posts you highlighted, specifically about my comments, these were taken out of context from interviews I gave explaining the scope of fraud, why it is not acceptable, and the administration’s efforts to fight fraud and stop it. Several of these social posts selectively quoted my comments explaining scope but not our comments condemning it or what we do to fight it,” Tiereny told The Daily Signal.
“Unfortunately, individuals every year attempt to defraud the government, and this is not acceptable. We have many state agencies in Ohio with anti-fraud units who work to combat this problem every day,” he added.
DeWine made similar comments during his press conference on Jan. 5.
“Look, in every agency we try to be as vigilant, and we are as vigilant as we can [be] about fraud. Does fraud occur? Yes, fraud occurs. Our job is to do everything we can. No fraud is acceptable. Zero tolerance, and our job is to do everything that we can,” DeWine offered.
“But, you have 5,200 facilities, you have 100,000 kids going in those facilities every single day and so, you know, there have been times in the past … we’ve found fraud and we go after that and try to find that,” the governor said.
“My job as governor and [Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente’s] job is to do everything we can to find fraud and to stop it, and we will continue to do that,” DeWine proclaimed.
Later, however, DeWine again acknowledged that “fraud does occur and if we think fraud doesn’t occur, we’re wrong. It does occur and our job is to do everything that we can and constantly look for new ways to stop fraud and … we’ve always welcomed tips.”
When answering a question about Somalis, the governor shared that fraud has involved that community, though he added, “We don’t care who is committing the fraud, we go after that and do whatever we can to stop it.” DeWine stressed a need to “focus on fraud itself and what we’re doing.”
“We need to look at this not as a Somali problem, but as a fraud problem,” the governor made clear. He later stressed that “we need to not fixate on any population, we need to fixate on the problem, we need to fixate on the fraud” and “what we can do collectively, all of us, to stop fraud in Ohio.”
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth was created by the state Legislature to focus on children, DeWine explained to John Fortney, communications director for the Ohio Senate Majority Caucus, during a podcast appearance, as he detailed ways to fight fraud.
Efforts to Combat Fraud
DeWine also explained in the press conference that the state is already following Trump administration guidelines for states to guard against fraud.
DeWine mentioned in the press conference that the state had rebuffed Biden administration orders for states to pay by enrollment rather than attendance by August 2026.
DeWine explained Ohio’s policy to Fortney on “The President’s Podcast.”
“We pay for attendance, we don’t pay for enrollment,” DeWine told Fortney. “Because enrollment, you know, you can enroll but, you know, you’re not there every Friday… So, we said, ‘No, we’re not going to pay for that. We’re going to have less fraud and it’s going to be much more accountable if we’re paying actually for attendance.”
During the podcast, Fortney referenced such safeguards as well. “There are very rigid guidelines, and PINs, and check-ins, and this state is serious about preventing waste, fraud and abuse,” Fortney said.
Attendance in Ohio has been verified with a special PIN since the Department of Children and Youth was created.
Wente previously explained at the Jan. 5 press conference that the PIN is also verified with a specific location or QR code, which parents use when signing children into a day care facility.
DeWine also added in the Jan. 5 press conference that the department “uses monthly, cross-department analytics to identify potential fraud, waste, and misuse of state funds.” The department also makes reviews based on “case-specific concerns.”
DeWine also addressed calls by Ohio Republicans for unannounced inspections. The department makes “unannounced health and safety inspections and reviews family eligibly and financial management practices,” DeWine claimed. Thirty-eight centers were closed as a result of those visits.
The “unannounced” nature was also a focus of Williams in his letter to Wente, who is requesting that her department look into fraud. The director spoke to Williams’ letter during the press conference, which she described as involving “a great conversation.”
Upon reaching out about Williams’ response to DeWine’s handling of fraud, The Daily Signal was told that Williams will hold his own press conference on Thursday to address the matter.
DeWine has also called for the public to submit tips on potential fraud. Twenty-six tips came in, DeWine shared last week, as a result of his Dec. 31 statement.
DeWine told Fortney that “unannounced investigations” are an essential part of combatting fraud. Examples of fraud have included reporting more children than were actually present, too.
“When you’re looking for fraud, you constantly have to adjust,” DeWine told Fortney, “Because you see a problem, and it might not be a problem that you foresaw.” This includes how people PINs were going to the daycare centers rather than staying with only parents, with daycares being able to use them to claim children were in attendance to get more money.
Because of fraud concerns surrounding the PINs, Ohio reset users’ PINs in June 2025.
“This is the type of thing we do to try to deal with fraud,” the governor added.
When The Daily Signal had reached a number previously listed on the official Ohio government website, that number directed to a voicemail greeting that mocked the Somali community. The Ohio website has since listed an updated number, though calls went to a voicemail box that is full.
Throughout the press conference, DeWine addressed how fraud concerns have come up over social media. He specifically addressed how concerned citizens who have tried to enter child care facilities have been denied entry. There’s “a good reason” why people can’t be let inside, DeWine said.
“To protect the children in these day care centers, Ohio requires facilities to have safety and security plans in place. They have these plans in place so that an adult cannot just walk into a facility without an appointment or without a child to pick up or drop off,” the governor shared. “That is there to protect the children. If you aren’t working there, or you haven’t been cleared to volunteer there, you can’t be there,” he stressed.
While one cannot get into a day care center without being a parent or volunteer, DeWine does want “the public’s involvement” in the form of tips. The governor again made a call for tips with regards to listeners of the podcast.