<p>Ohio Congressman Bob Gibbs (R) on Friday penned a letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz asking for an investigation into widespread unemployment fraud that has taken place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, Gibbs wants to know if an anti-fraud detection program could have prevented states from spending millions &#8212; and in some cases, billions &#8212; on unemployment fraud.</p>
<p>According to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Interim Director Matt Damschroder, the state has paid out more than $2.1 billion in unemployment benefits since the COVID pandemic began last March. In addition, &#8220;More than 1.5 billion worth of overpayments were considered to be &#8216;nonfraudulent&#8217; that affected both traditional and pandemic unemployment benefits,&#8221; <a href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/since-covid-pandemic-began-ohio-has-overpaid-21-billion-in-unemployment-benefits/530-5ba16315-782c-45c8-a387-e6f32c98d7be">WBNS-TV</a> reported. &#8220;Fraudulent overpayments in both traditional and pandemic unemployment totaled more than $460 million.&#8221;</p>
<p>Ohio isn&#8217;t the only state that has dealt with sweeping unemployment fraud. California allegedly sent $1 billion in enhanced COVID unemployment benefits to &#8220;hundreds of incarcerated individuals, including high-profile convicted murderer Scott Peterson,&#8221; per a report from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/errors-scams-led-california-to-send-millions-in-covid-unemployment-benefits-to-prisoners-death-row-inmates">The Daily Wire</a>.</p>
<p>In New Mexico, the state paid $250 million in overpayments, $100 million of which was fraud, <a href="https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/over-100-million-worth-of-unemployment-fraud-under-investigation/">KRQE-TV</a> reported. The New York state government paid out $2 million in unemployment benefits to eight men who schemed the system, per a report from the <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-nyc-youth-covid-unemployment-fraud-scheme-20210518-o5pkb5iw6janvggcqtfg5lo7ki-story.html">New York Daily News</a>. And in Texas, $577 million went to roughly 373,000 possibly fraudulent claims, <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/investigations/defenders/fraudulent-unemployment-claims-in-texas-amid-pandemic/269-6dbd7686-fd81-4a69-b560-93b1024b31bf">KVUE-TV</a> reported.</p>
<p>Congressman Gibbs wants to know if an anti-fraud detection program could have prevented large-scale fraud that took place throughout the pandemic.</p>
<p>&#8220;In 2013, the Obama administration gave California&#8217;s Employment Development Department (EDD) a $2 million grant to implement a fraud detection program through Pondera Solutions. This program is reported to be very successful at detecting high probability fraud in a large number of cases but was shut down in 2016 by EDD due to its annual operations cost of $2 million,&#8221; Gibbs wrote. &#8220;According to El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, a significant percentage of between $11 and $31 billion would have been saved in 2020 if the program would have still be running.&#8221;</p>
<p>Specifically, Gibbs wants the IG to determine:</p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li><em>The amount of overpayments and fraudulent payments of each state.</em></li>
<li><em>Which, if any, states implement programs similar to the California EDD using Pondera, and how effective were they at preventing fraud?</em></li>
<li><em>Whether any states have conducted their own audits and what are the findings.</em></li>
<li><em>The recovery rate of each state (IE-what states have done the vest in recouping fraudulent payments).</em></li>
<li><em>Provide guidance on best practices for addressing the issue and preventing it from happening in the future. </em></li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>READ:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe loading="lazy" id="doc_57046" class="scribd_iframe_embed" title="Rep Gibbs - Unemployment Fraud Study Request" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/509134134/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-QT1D8mzwimjQavsvNeS3" width="100%" height="600" scrolling="no" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="0.7729220222793488"><i><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span>The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a </i><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe"><span class="s1"><i>member</i></span></a><i>.</i>&nbsp;</p>
<p></iframe></p>
<p>The letter comes after House Ways and Means Committee Republicans, under the leadership of Rep. Kevin Brady (TX), introduced the Combatting COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2021, which would &#8220;prevent fraud in COVID unemployment programs, recover fraudulently paid benefits, and provide relief for taxpayers and victims of unemployment fraud,&#8221; a press release from the committee stated.</p>
<p>Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced a companion bill in the Senate, known as <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1699?s=2&amp;r=2">S. 1699</a>.</p>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Bob Gibbs Has Major Questions Surrounding Fraudulent Unemployment Claims

CONTINUE READING

Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin Uses Rare Opportunity To Ban Mask Mandates

OPINION: The Wuhan Lab Leak Theory Should Have Never Been Labeled A ‘Conspiracy’

ATF Will Not Release Information About Hunter Biden’s Guns Because Of ‘Substantial Privacy Interests’

Nikole Hannah-Jones’ University Tenure Is Now Back On The Table

WATCH: Biden’s ATF Pick Provides His Definition Of An ‘Assault Weapon.’ His Proposed Ban Would Outlaw Most Rifles In America.

WATCH: Sutherland Springs Hero Stephen Willeford Testifies About His ‘Greatest Regret’ That Day

News

COVID

Unemployment

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News —

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Bob Gibbs Has Major Questions Surrounding Fraudulent Unemployment Claims