这位民主党联邦参议员候选人在被问及自身责任时表示“州长说过责任由他承担”
2026年8月14日 美国东部时间12:29 / 福克斯新闻
佩吉·弗拉纳根在周四MSNBC的“早安乔”节目中被问及明尼苏达州舞弊事件的责任时，将矛头指向了蒂姆·瓦尔兹州长。（图片来源：MSNBC – 8月13日）
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明尼苏达州民主党副州长佩吉·弗拉纳根在最近的一次采访中，被问及两人执政期间爆发的大规模舞弊丑闻的责任时，将矛头指向了州长蒂姆·瓦尔兹。
“我想说，州长说过责任由他承担，本应更早采取更多行动，我对此表示赞同，”弗拉纳根周四在MSNBC节目中被问及是否应对这起联邦调查人员称涉案金额可能超过90亿美元的丑闻承担任何责任时说道。
作为明尼苏达州民主党联邦参议员候选人的弗拉纳根补充道：“而且现在我们知道已有100人被起诉，60人已被定罪。”
弗拉纳根的言论在社交媒体上引发了反弹，用户指责她推卸责任，因为自2019年以来她一直作为瓦尔兹的副手与他共事。
佩吉·弗拉纳根是明尼苏达州二号人物，大规模舞弊丑闻在该州任内爆发
佩吉·弗拉纳根在MSNBC的“早安乔”节目中与州长蒂姆·瓦尔兹划清界限，谈及明尼苏达州舞弊事件时称本应更早采取更多行动。（斯蒂芬·马图伦/盖蒂图片社）
“明尼苏达民主党人佩吉·弗拉纳根指责蒂姆·瓦尔兹，却逃避本州猖獗舞弊应承担的责任，”共和党全国委员会（RNC）在X平台上发帖称。
“她清楚自己在这件事上处境脆弱，”保守派电台主持人兼编辑拉里·奥康纳在X平台上发帖称，“这为@米歇尔·塔福亚打开了巨大的突破口。”
11月大选与弗拉纳根对阵的共和党对手、前体育节目主持人米歇尔·塔福亚也在X平台上回应了这段视频，称：“佩吉·弗拉纳根拒绝为她担任副州长期间数十亿美元税款被盗取承担任何责任。”
名人堂成员托尼·邓迪在竞争激烈的明尼苏达州共和党联邦参议员初选中背书米歇尔·塔福亚
明尼苏达州民主党联邦参议员候选人、副州长佩吉·弗拉纳根在本届中期选举周期中借进步浪潮之势，但在以绝对优势击败温和派对手之前，她就亲眼见证了家乡州这场大规模舞弊丑闻的发酵。（斯蒂芬·马图伦/盖蒂图片社）
“明尼苏达人不应得到借口。他们应得到愿意承担责任、完成工作的领导人。”
《市政厅》专栏作家达斯汀·格雷奇在X平台上发帖称：“佩吉·弗拉纳根就这样把舞弊责任推给了蒂姆·瓦尔兹。没错，如果她真因这场舞弊被追责，她清楚自己完蛋了。”
明尼苏达州的这场舞弊丑闻最终促使瓦尔兹放弃连任竞选，批评人士持续抨击他的政府未能采取足够措施遏制日益严重的舞弊问题，这一问题在过去几年里已成为该州公开的秘密。
弗拉纳根在舞弊丑闻中的责任很可能成为她联邦参议员竞选的主要热议话题，随着保守派要求更多问责的呼声持续高涨，而丑闻发生后没有任何高级官员被解雇或撤职。
“尽管收到了无数举报人报告、审计师报告和刑事定罪消息，@佩吉·弗拉纳根却没有采取任何措施保护弱势公民和纳税人，”曾担任明尼苏达州众议院舞弊预防与监督委员会主席的明尼苏达州共和党州众议员克里斯汀·罗宾斯本周在X平台上发帖称。
“佩吉·弗拉纳根、@蒂姆·瓦尔兹和@基思·埃利森为保护他们的政治基础，而非制止舞弊。”
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明尼苏达州州长蒂姆·瓦尔兹2026年3月4日在华盛顿特区美国国会大厦出席众议院监督与改革委员会听证会。该委员会举行听证会，旨在调查明尼苏达州社会服务和医疗补助计划的联邦资金被涉嫌挪用一事。（盖蒂图片社）
弗拉纳根在周二晚间的联邦参议员初选胜利演讲中未提及舞弊事件，这也遭到了塔福亚在社交媒体上的批评。
福克斯新闻数字频道已联系弗拉纳根的竞选团队置评。
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MN Senate candidate ripped for blaming Walz for fraud despite being his #2: ‘Knows she’s cooked’
The Democratic Senate nominee said ‘the governor says the buck stops with him’ when asked about her responsibility
August 14, 2026 12:29pm EDT / Fox News
Peggy Flanagan pointed to Gov. Tim Walz when pressed on her responsibility for Minnesota fraud on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” Thursday. (Credit: MS NOW – Aug. 13)
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Minnesota Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan pointed the finger at Gov. Tim Walz when asked during a recent interview about her responsibility for the massive fraud scandal that unfolded under their watch.
“I would say, the governor says the buck stops with him, more should have been done sooner, and I agree,” Flanagan said on MSNOW on Thursday when asked if she bears any responsibility for the scandal, which federal investigators have said could total more than $9 billion.
Flanagan, who is the Democratic nominee for Senate in Minnesota, continued, “And now we know that 100 people have been charged, 60 have been convicted.”
Flanagan’s comments sparked pushback on social media from users accusing her of deflecting responsibility given she has served alongside Walz as his second in command since 2019.
PEGGY FLANAGAN WAS MINNESOTA’S NO 2 OFFICIAL AS MASSIVE FRAUD SCANDAL EXPLODED UNDER STATE’S WATCH
Peggy Flanagan distances herself from Gov. Tim Walz over Minnesota fraud, saying more should have been done sooner on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe.”(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
“Minnesota Democrat Peggy Flanagan blames Tim Walz and dodges accountability for rampant fraud in her state,” the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on X.
“She KNOWS she’s vulnerable on this,” conservative radio host and editor Larry O’Connor posted on X. “Huge opening for @Michele_Tafoya.”
Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, Flanagan’s Republican opponent in November, also reacted to the clip in a post on X saying, “Peggy Flanagan refuses to take any responsibility and accountability for billions of our tax dollars being stolen under her watch as lieutenant governor.
HALL OF FAMER TONY DUNGY ENDORSES MICHELE TAFOYA IN CROWDED MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR U.S. SENATE
Minnesota’s Democratic Senate nominee, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, is riding the progressive wave this midterm election cycle, but before handing moderates a resounding defeat, she had a front row seat in the sprawling fraud scandal in her home state.(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
“Minnesotans deserve better than excuses. They deserve leaders who will take responsibility and get the job done.”
Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X, “Here is Peggy Flanagan blaming Tim Walz for the fraud. Oh yeah, she knows she’s cooked if she rightfully gets tied to the fraud.”
The fraud scandal in Minnesota ultimately pushed Walz to drop his bid for re-election, and critics have continued to hammer his administration for not doing enough to prevent the growing fraud problem, which had become an open secret in the state over the past few years.
Flanagan’s culpability in the fraud scandal will likely become a major talking point in her campaign for Senate as calls from conservatives for more accountability continue to pour in as no top officials have been fired or removed from office in the scandal’s aftermath.
“@peggyflanagan did NOTHING to protect vulnerable citizens & taxpayers despite countless whistleblower reports, Auditor reports, & criminal convictions,” Minnesota Republican State Rep. Kristin Robbins, who chaired the Minnesota House’s Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee posted on X this week.
“Peggy Flanagan, @Tim_Walz & @keithellison protected their political base instead of stopping the fraud.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz testifies during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2026. The committee held the hearing to examine the alleged misuse of federal funds intended for Minnesota social services and Medicaid programs.(Getty Images)
Flanagan did not mention fraud during her victory speech following Tuesday night’s Senate primary, which also drew criticism from Tafoya on social media.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Flanagan campaign for comment.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
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