Full Breakdown
Democratic Attorneys General Excluded from Vice President JD Vance’s Anti-Fraud Roundtable
5/28/2026, 2:50:25 AM
Exclusion of Democratic Attorneys General from Vance’s Anti-Fraud Roundtable
On Tuesday, May 27 2026, the White House hosted a roundtable on fraud led by Vice President JD Vance. Deputy attorneys general from New York, California and New Jersey reported that their staff were denied entry, while 24 Democratic attorneys general had formally declined the invitation, citing less than one business day’s notice and no agenda.
Background: The White House Fraud Task Force
President Donald Trump appointed Vance as chair of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in March 2026. The task force operates across the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Small Business Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other agencies.
Key Participants
- JD Vance – Vice President, task-force chair.
- Democratic AGs – Letitia James (NY), Rob Bonta (CA), Jennifer Davenport (NJ), Keith Ellison (MN), Dan Rayfield (OR), William Tong (CT) and 18 others.
- Republican AGs – Derek Brown (UT), Marty Jackley (SD), Raúl Labrador (ID), Todd Rokita (IN) and 11 additional states.
- Andrew Ferguson – FTC chair, task-force vice-chair.
- Stephen Miller – White House senior adviser.
Timeline of Invitation and Response
- Early May – Vance’s office invites Republican AGs (? 1 week prior).
- Friday, May 24 – Invitation sent to Democratic AGs with RSVP due Saturday.
- Saturday – Democratic offices RSVP; many plan to send staff.
- Tuesday, May 27 – Roundtable held; Democratic staff turned away; Democratic AGs issue press statement.
Data on Fraud Claims
Vance reported that the task force, in two months, “exposed billions of dollars in benefits that had been stolen,” referred $22 billion in fraudulent small-business loans back to Treasury, deferred $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements, and placed a six-month hold on new hospice and home-health enrollments. The DOJ’s new Fraud Division executed 22 search warrants in Minnesota and secured 15 indictments for alleged Medicaid fraud. Vance also cited $6.3 billion in suspect government contracts.
Official Statements & Responses
- Vance asserted the effort “should not be partisan – everybody should care about fraud.”
- The Democratic AGs’ letter emphasized commitment to stop fraud but called the short-notice invitation “not a good-faith effort.”
- The Republican Attorneys General Association praised the meeting, stating “Republican AGs are thrilled to roll up our sleeves… Vice President Vance is right – this is not a partisan issue.”
- The White House declined to comment on the letter.
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic officials argued the invitation was an afterthought. James said staff from Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maryland and Nevada were turned away; Bonta warned they would not be “used as props in Vance’s political performance.” Davenport warned that “eliminating fraud cannot be a partisan effort” and warned of funding freezes. Conversely, Republican AG association head Adam Piper accused Democratic AGs of “knowingly aid[ing] and abet[ting] scams.”
On-the-Ground Reports
At a press conference, James noted her deputy was denied access, describing the rationale as “conflicting and didn’t really make sense.” Bonta added that the short notice “sends a clear message we were either an afterthought or we weren’t really welcome.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Vance claimed representatives from Oregon and Connecticut attended, yet Democratic AGs reported staff from multiple states were barred. Sources differ on the number of Republican AGs present (15 vs 16). Vance highlighted joint successes, while Democrats noted the task force omitted any mention of state-level joint investigations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My deputy attorney general went to Washington DC today, and unfortunately was not allowed access to the meeting,” — Letitia James, New York Attorney General
- “Eliminating fraud cannot be a partisan effort or politically motivated,” — Jennifer Davenport, New Jersey Attorney General
- “we won’t be used as props in Vance’s political performance.” — Rob Bonta, California Attorney General
- “This should not be a partisan effort – everybody should care about fraud,” — JD Vance, Vice President
What’s Next
Democratic attorneys general indicated willingness to reconvene if given adequate notice and a clear agenda. The task force continues investigations in Minnesota and other states, and Vance’s fraud-fighting tour is slated to visit additional states later in 2026.
