Day cares face harassment as fraud claims reach Ohio
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Gov. Mike DeWine is pushing back against some claims of fraud at day care centers, saying Ohio already has methods in place to root out issues and urging activists to stop showing up to locations unannounced.
Why it matters: Viral videos of right-wing influencers and independent journalists alleging widespread fraud have prompted a frenzy at day care centers, with a focus on those associated with Somali immigrants.
- Child care facilities say they're being harassed as billions of dollars in federal funding hangs in the balance.
Catch up quick: Controversy started in Minnesota just before Christmas, when 23-year-old MAGA-friendly YouTuber Nick Shirley — who has more than 1 million subscribers — began releasing videos alleging fraud at Minneapolis day cares.
- Shirley's evidence focused on a signage typo at one location and locked doors elsewhere — days later, officials said the establishments were operating as expected.
- The videos went viral, especially in right-wing media spaces, with others copying Shirley's strategy across the country.
By the next week, the Trump administration had frozen all child care payments to Minnesota due to the allegations.
- Now, $10 billion in funding has been frozen in five blue states — allegedly due to fraud and giving money to undocumented immigrants, per an Office of Management and Budget official.
Context: Fraud claims come amid the Trump administration's attacks on Somali immigrants.
- In December, Trump called Somali immigrants "garbage" who "contribute nothing."
- The administration's fixation has left the 26,000 Somali immigrants in Columbus — the second-largest population in the country — in fear.
Zoom in: Local day cares owned or operated by Somalis are being harassed by right-wing influencers, leading police to respond at least eight times for disturbances, suspicious people or harassment.
State Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) sent a letter co-signed by 42 other representatives to Kara Wente, director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, urging the department to "increase the frequency of unannounced inspections of childcare facilities."
- The letter makes no specific allegations or claims of wrongdoing, but "requests" that DCY increase inspections, audit attendance records and billing, suspend facilities with "material misrepresentations" and refer cases of fraud to authorities.
At a Monday press conference, DeWine underlined existing "safeguards in place to prevent fraud," doubling down on a Dec. 31 statement.
- He also debunked a viral claim that 40 Somali day cares were registered on the same day.
What they're saying: DeWine urged people to stop showing up unannounced to child care facilities.
- "So there shouldn't be a shock when… you see something on social media, and someone is going, 'I can't get into this place. No one will let me in.'"
- "Well, hell no! No one should let them in."