Democrats say – Three Democratic state attorneys general say their deputies were turned away from a White House “bipartisan” fraud roundtable led by Vice-President JD Vance, even as Vance said the crackdown “should not be partisan.” The dispute centers on last-minute invitati
On Tuesday, the promise of a bipartisan push against fraud collided with something far smaller—an office badge at a Washington door.
Three Democratic state attorneys general said their deputies were turned away from a roundtable hosted by Vice-President JD Vance. The meeting, billed as a joint effort to root out fraud in government programs, brought together more than a dozen Republican state attorneys general.
New York’s Letitia James said her deputy attorney general traveled to Washington to attend, but “was not allowed access to the meeting.” James spoke to reporters at a press conference after Vance convened the gathering.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Vance. chair of the White House taskforce to eliminate fraud. told reporters at the roundtable that “This should not be a partisan effort – everybody should care about fraud.” He also said the taskforce had “exposed billions of dollars in benefits that have been stolen from the American people” since it was launched in March.
But James and two fellow Democratic attorneys general—California’s Rob Bonta and New Jersey’s Jennifer Davenport—said they were not given a meaningful opportunity to participate.
They pointed to a last-minute invitation they declined. The Democrats formally announced their decision not to attend Tuesday’s roundtable in a letter addressed to Vance and signed by 24 state attorneys general. including Dan Rayfield of Oregon and William Tong of Connecticut. In the letter. they said they were “committed to stopping fraud. waste. and abuse in all government programs across our states” and were “proud of our continued partnership with the federal government in this mission.” They also said the invitation was provided with “less than one business day’s notice with no agenda”.
James said her office has been a leader in prosecuting Medicaid fraud and was cited, along with three other Medicaid fraud offices, as comprising half of all civil recoveries in the US in fiscal year 2025.
“Real collaboration between states and the federal government is critical to addressing fraud and waste, but that partnership requires proper notice, sincere engagement and a genuine opportunity for productive discussion,” James said.
She then tied the dispute to what she described as weakening oversight by the Trump administration, citing Medicaid cuts and efforts to dismantle the Department of Health and Human Services. Davenport delivered a sharper warning about motive.
“Eliminating fraud cannot be a partisan effort or politically motivated,” Davenport said. “but I’m concerned that this federal administration is using allegations of fraud in an attempt to freeze or cut funding to these critical programs.” She added that “While the Trump administration claims that it is now prioritizing fighting fraud. it has gutted many of the federal agencies that are meant to root out fraud.”.
Josh Kaul, Wisconsin’s attorney general, also criticized the way the administration is framing the fight against fraud, arguing that it treats enforcement as politics rather than accountability.
“You cannot have a president hardening fraudster after fraudster, and then turn around and say he takes fraud seriously,” Kaul said. “You’re getting rid of inspectors general who root out fraud. That sends the wrong message when it comes to fighting fraud.”
Kaul said the vice-president’s office turned away some people from AGs offices, who he described as experts on the subject. “You don’t solve this problem by shutting out voices who know how you can fight this problem.”
During the same day’s exchange, Vance’s taskforce claimed fraud victories by pointing to frozen funds and several US Department of Justice cases, while also avoiding mention of any joint investigations. The taskforce did not mention any joint investigations.
Bonta said his office’s joint investigation into a case was also overlooked.
In fact. Bonta said the case was used to accuse California of “failure to fight fraud.” Bonta said. “The first assistant was very irresponsible to suggest that the federal government was doing something and California was not involved when we were actually in that very case. engaged in a partnership to tackle fraud.”.
Bonta added that California also handles cases on its own, including what he called the biggest hospice fraud bust in the history of State of California—describing it as “our investigation, that was our takedown, that’s our prosecution.” He said the state would “secure the convictions.”
But he returned to the dispute over accuracy and intent: “you can’t just outright lie. And unfortunately, that’s been part of what this Trump administration has been doing.”
A spokesperson for first assistant US attorney, Bill Essayli, didn’t address the omission directly. Instead. the spokesperson deferred comment to an interview in which Essayli was asked whether the state works with the Department of Justice on fraud cases. Essayli said they “often will be cooperative. ” while also complaining about a lack of checks on disbursing funds through federal programs in California.
At the press conference, Bonta said his office has conducted several fraud investigations in California since he has been in office, through four teams dedicated to fraud cases.
“We’re not here to claim our states are immune to fraud,” Bonta said. “The problem is that, instead of working with us to actually root out fraud and protect taxpayers, Trump, Vance and Oz are politicizing the problem and gaslighting the American people.”
He closed by linking the day’s political clash to a practical question about cooperation. “If the federal government ever decides to quit playing games. we’ll be here. ready and willing to join forces to tackle fraud. ” Bonta said. “Today’s political performance in DC doesn’t give me much hope that day will come soon.”.
JD Vance fraud crackdown bipartisan Letitia James Rob Bonta Jennifer Davenport Medicaid fraud taskforce to eliminate fraud DOJ cases frozen funds inspectors general