Democrats damn themselves with no-shows at hearing on fraud

NY Post ^ | 7/19/26 | Post Editorial Board

[Libloather]

As Republicans expose fraud in the tens of billions in Medicaid and other welfare programs, Democrats’ response is to... duck.

They made it glaringly obvious last week as Sen. Rand Paul chaired a Senate Homeland Security Committee meeting: Nearly all the panel’s Dem members were total no-shows; only Sen. Gary Peters attended at all, and only long enough to ask a few questions before heading for the door.

The hearing actually covered two very different fraud topics:

- Independent journalist Nick Shirley reviewed his welfare-fraud discoveries, including blatant abuses of Medicaid by New York adult day cares.

- Undercover-video specialist James O’Keefe testified about his recordings uncovering voter bribery on LA’s Skid Row.

Strange: Dems have extremely strong views on both issues. They’ve been slamming Republican moves to trim Medicaid and other welfare outlays for years now, denouncing anti-fraud measures as “savage cuts”; Senate Dems are even now using the filibuster to prevent a floor vote that would pass the SAVE Act to counter voting fraud.

Yet they simply boycotted a hearing where they could have poked holes in GOP claims as they grilled the witnesses.

Do they think their own case is so weak that they don’t dare even try to make it?

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Health/Medicine; History
KEYWORDS: defundthecops; democrats; democrattruth; fraud; fraudtruth; hearing; newyorkpost; randspam

[Libloather]

Affordability.

[FreedomForce]

Democrats don’t show up at the hearing because even though they can’t admit it, they are in favor of the fraud.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Do they think their own case is so weak that they don’t dare even try to make it?

That's their M.O. for everything. They never have to justify soft-on-crime, tax the wealthy, open borders, globalism, men in women's spaces, sports and locker rooms, killing babies, high taxes, voter ID. They just refuse to provide any logical justifications for their horrific policies. I don't EVER recall a Democrat making a case for ANY of their policies no matter how unpopular they are.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

I’ve reached the point where when I read the word “democrat,” I get a bad taste in my mouth.

[Dan Zachary]

yet they simply boycotted a hearing

Wish I could find a high paying job that I do not have to show up to work if I do not feel like it.

[Drago]

Nobody (politician-wise) wants to be known as “the austerity candidate” (including 98% of GOP candidates/incumbents). Balanced budgets and austerity costs you votes....the “Free Stuff Army” is undefeated.

[LegendHasIt]

I was going to say that I’m surprised they don’t show up to at least know what evidences against them they need to spin, subvert or eliminate....

Then I realized they don’t really need to do that because half the Republicans will do that for them, or at least warn them of what is discussed.

[rktman]

Too busy counting cash.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Video Transcript Summary

The YouTube video (https://youtu.be/4xnuTg8tySg) appears to be footage or a recording of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) full committee hearing titled “Exposing Fraud in America,” held on July 15, 2026.

hsgac.senate.gov

Key Context and No-Show Democrats

• No Democrats attended: Multiple reports and posts (including from senators like Rand Paul and Bernie Moreno, and outlets like Western Journal and PJ Media) confirm that every Democrat seat on the committee was empty. All Democratic members were invited but none showed up.
  westernjournal.com
• This became a major talking point, with Republicans highlighting it as evidence that Democrats “do not care whether taxpayer money is burnt.” Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) and others used it to criticize the other party’s priorities.
  westernjournal.com

Main Witnesses (Panel I)

• Nick Shirley (independent journalist/YouTuber): Testified about widespread fraud in social services, especially in Minnesota (e.g., taxpayer-funded daycare centers allegedly receiving funds with little or no children present, healthcare/transportation fraud). His viral videos helped prompt investigations and federal actions like freezing payments. He emphasized fraud’s pervasiveness and ease of discovery.
  westernjournal.com
• James O’Keefe (CEO, O’Keefe Media Group): Presented undercover footage from Los Angeles showing alleged voter registration and ballot petition fraud. Examples included petition circulators offering cash, drugs, or goods for signatures; paying for registrations; and targeting vulnerable people (e.g., homeless individuals). One case contributed to a federal prosecution. He argued weak enforcement and financial incentives enable fraud.
  pjmedia.com
• Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette (Project on Government Oversight): Provided additional perspective on government oversight failures and fraud vulnerabilities.
  hsgac.senate.gov

Hearing Themes and Testimony Highlights

• Scale of the problem: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates federal fraud at $233–521 billion per year (FY 2018–2022 data). Witnesses and senators described systemic issues: poor verification, weak oversight, incentives for fraudsters, and billions wasted in programs like Medicaid, welfare, child care, and voting-related processes.
  foxbaltimore.com
• Specific examples:
  • Non-citizens allegedly accessing taxpayer-funded benefits.
  • Empty or fake service providers billing government programs.
  • Voter registration fraud via paid/incentivized signatures.
  • Broader waste in entitlement and aid programs (e.g., California Medicaid costs doubling with minimal enrollment growth).
• Republican arguments: Stronger oversight, enforcement, and reforms are needed. Senators (e.g., Rand Paul) framed it as protecting taxpayers and future generations from debt-fueled waste. Calls for action to “put Americans first.”
  westernjournal.com
• The hearing focused on exposure and accountability rather than specific new legislation (though related anti-fraud task forces exist).

Overall Tone and SignificanceThe hearing was partisan in tone, especially due to the empty Democratic side. Republicans used it to spotlight government waste/fraud under prior administrations or lax policies, while witnesses (particularly citizen journalists/investigators) positioned their work as filling gaps left by official oversight. It aligns with broader 2025–2026 Republican priorities on reducing federal spending and cracking down on fraud in the post-COVID era.

pjmedia.com

The video likely captures opening statements, witness testimonies, Q&A (Republican senators only), and related visuals/clips from investigations. For the most accurate details, the official Senate committee page or full C-SPAN-style recording would be ideal.

[oldtech]

Yes, don’t we all wish for something like that. I had a basically low-paying job for a good part of my life & I had to be there every day I could. Now, I am on S.S. & how long will that last? I get by, but not like an elected Democrat. I was paid for what I did when I was working, nothing for whatever I did not do. Upon retiring I now have to live with what thieving beaurocrats have done to that system.

[econjack]

Why show up for something they are totally familiar with and practice on a daily basis.

[Bullish]

Democrats didn’t want to ask any questions about fraud because they didn’t want any questions to be asked... By anyone.

What does that say loud and clear?

[know.your.why]

Couldn't even show up with some bingo cards? How disappointing.

[Joann37]

I disagree with the headline. To us, yes, they’re damning themselves, but to their voters, they are clueless and wouldn’t care anyway.

[poconopundit]

Wow, some heavy hitters testified like Nick Shirley and James O’Keefe. No wonder the feeble DemoRats high-tailed themselves out of the hearing.

Nice to see Rand Paul taking the lead on exposing the fraud.

[Dan Zachary]

I now have to live with what thieving beaurocrats have done to that system.

Until we run out of that money. Ever notice we never run out of money to pay those same bureaucrats, give to other countries, give to thieving scammers, etc.?

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

They’ve become domestic enemies of the USA, it’s very strange. It makes me wonder if hey ever really got over losing the Civil war.

[Celtic Conservative]

“I’ve reached the point where when I read the word “democrat,” I get a bad taste in my mouth.”

I think that started with Monica Lewinsky.

CC

[PGalt]

Shirley & O’Keefe citizen journalists extraordinaire.

[Apparatchik]

Nearly all the panel’s Dem members were total no-shows; only Sen. Gary Peters attended at all

I understand notorious horn dog Gallego not wanting to show his face, but Wiki tells me Fetterman is also a Dem on that committee- why would he skip it?