Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins pressed New York Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz on fraud during an exchange focused on the scope of government waste and abuse in blue states, with Blumencranz arguing that Minnesota’s fraud scandal represents only a fraction of a much larger problem in New York.

“When you see what’s happening in Minnesota and you look at how widespread the fraud was, what is the situation here in New York?” Jenkins asked.

Blumencranz responded by comparing Minnesota’s case to what he described as decades of unchecked fraud in New York, saying the scale of the problem is far greater in his state.

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“Absolutely. Griff, thank you for having me on the situation in New York, let’s just say Minnesota would be the tip of the iceberg for what we see here in a large blue state like New York, fraud has gone on rampant for many decades,” Blumencranz said.

Blumencranz said reversing the problem requires a fundamental shift in how fraud is investigated and prosecuted.

He pointed to legislation he has introduced in New York aimed at restructuring the system and increasing accountability.

“And in order to UN institutionalize it, we need legislation that will fundamentally change the way that we investigate,” he said.

“So we introduced a bill called the stamp out Fraud Act here in New York. I’ve been working hard on making sure we can implement something like this.”

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Blumencranz outlined what he described as three key components of the proposal, beginning with modernization of investigative tools and restructuring oversight into a single agency.

He cited statistics he said demonstrate how rarely fraud cases lead to consequences.

“It’s simple three separate ways we can help fix the problem,” Blumencranz said.

“We institute new technologies and ways we can investigate, mandate investigations in one agency, I saw 35,000 cases reported. Less than 30 were actually leading to arrests.”

He emphasized the disparity between reported cases and enforcement outcomes.

“So we’re not seeing the investigations. 35,000 only 30, only 30. Less than 30. There was about 24 were actually led to arrests,” he said.

Blumencranz also said penalties for fraud must be strengthened to deter repeat offenses and send a clear message.

“And at the end of the day, we need to see real punishment, so we increase the penalties to fraud, so people don’t think that defrauding the American people of the people of New York, would lead to a slap on the wrist,” he said.

“It needs to be real jail time.”

Jenkins then asked whether political leadership in New York could face scrutiny similar to what Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has encountered.

“So when you see the hot water that Governor Walz is in in Minnesota, do you think that New York Governor Kathy Hochul could face the same scrutiny?” Jenkins asked.

Blumencranz said he believes accountability should extend to governors in blue states who have failed to address fraud.

“100% Absolutely,” he said.

“I think that governors in blue states that have been neglecting to actually tackle fraud, they’re neglecting the conversation about affordability.”

He linked fraud directly to rising costs for residents, particularly in insurance markets.

“What the individual is just saying the AG, this number, it adds up for people, whether it’s in health insurance fraud, in your premiums, in auto insurance fraud in New York, some of the highest rates in the nation,” Blumencranz said.

He argued that fraud costs are built into what consumers pay and that broader investigations are needed across all levels of government.

“There’s a build in for fraud,” Blumencranz said.

“We need to look at investigating fraud all across government, and the way that government is neglecting to protect the taxpayers, not just of New York, but everyone in America.”

WATCH:

NY State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz says the fraud in Minnesota is just “the tip of the iceberg” when compared to “what we see in a large blue state like New York.”

“Fraud has gone on rampant for many decades,” he says, explaining it’s entrenched in institutions. pic.twitter.com/5HcO3FifiH

— Julia (@Jules31415) December 25, 2025

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