Gov. Mike DeWine warns Ohio residents against entering daycare facilities to investigate alleged fraud, urging the public to report concerns through official state channels.
Gov. DeWine Warns Public Against Daycare Fraud Investigations
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has warned members of the public to stop attempting to investigate alleged daycare fraud by entering child care facilities, emphasizing that such actions violate state law and pose safety risks to children.
The warning follows a surge of social media videos over the past two weeks showing individuals who describe themselves as “investigative journalists” approaching daycare centers in Columbus, questioning staff about alleged fraud, and being denied entry.
During a Monday news conference, DeWine urged Ohio residents to report suspected daycare fraud directly to the state rather than attempting to gain access to child care facilities. He noted that Ohio law strictly prohibits anyone from entering a daycare unless they are an employee or responsible for a child enrolled there.
DeWine said the law exists to protect children and that the public should be reassured not alarmed when daycares refuse entry to strangers. He stressed that preventing unauthorized access is a critical part of child safety.
Several of the targeted daycare centers are operated by individuals of Somali descent. Allegations circulating online appear to link Ohio daycare providers to fraud cases uncovered in Minnesota, where authorities have investigated multiple fraud schemes related to child nutrition, housing, and autism services since 2022.
Minnesota, which has the largest Somali population in the United States, has charged 92 individuals in fraud-related cases, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Columbus has the second-largest Somali population nationwide, a fact that DeWine said has been unfairly used to draw conclusions about fraud in Ohio.
DeWine rejected the notion that the issue should be framed around ethnicity, emphasizing that fraud investigations in Ohio involve individuals of various backgrounds. He said the state has strong safeguards in place, including attendance-based payments and robust reporting systems, and that all allegations are investigated thoroughly.
“We need to look at this as a fraud issue, not a community issue,” DeWine said.
Some of the individuals conducting these confrontations, including former Major League Baseball player John Rocker and Republican strategist Mehek Cooke, have posted videos online showing interactions with Columbus residents, particularly within the Somali community. Critics argue these actions amount to harassment, while the individuals claim they are exposing wrongdoing.
Without naming anyone directly, DeWine reiterated that no one unaffiliated with a daycare should attempt to enter child care facilities. He encouraged anyone with concerns to submit reports through the Ohio Department of Children and Youth’s official online channels and allow authorities to handle investigations.
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