What could the federal purchase of a CoreCivic prison mean for Keith Ellison?
Ellison calls for investigation into $495 million prison purchase. As Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison is calling on Congress to investigate the Federal Government's purchase of an out-of-service prison in Appleton, Minnesota. The purchase was made for $495 million, which is reported to be over six times the $75 million price CoreCivic offered to the state of Minnesota. Ellison is specifically asking the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees and the House Oversight Committee to investigate the massive overpayment, linking the decision to 'significant amounts' donated by CoreCivic and its CEO to President Trump.
- Effect
- Mild negative
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Within weeks
- The story
- No new developments lately
How it reaches Keith Ellison
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The Department of Homeland Security paid $495.6 million for a vacant prison in Appleton, Minnesota, in August. This purchase was made despite CoreCivic offering the same property to the State of Minnesota for $75 million approximately a year earlier. This price difference amounts to $420 million. Following this, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a federal crackdown in Minnesota, while Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called for a congressional investigation into the purchase.
The full event3independent outlets -
Keith Ellison, as Minnesota Attorney General, is asking the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees and the House Oversight Committee to investigate the Federal Government's purchase of the Appleton prison. This purchase was made in August for $495 million, despite CoreCivic offering it to the state of Minnesota for $75 million.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- y94.com Friday
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American politician (born 1963)
Everything about Keith Ellison
Tap any step to see the evidence behind it.
The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- The Federal Government bought the prison in Appleton, Minnesota, for $495 million.y94.com, newrepublic.com
- CoreCivic offered the prison to the state of Minnesota for $75 million.y94.com, newrepublic.com
- Ellison is asking the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees and the House Oversight Committee to investigate.y94.com
- CoreCivic and its CEO have donated 'significant amounts' to President Trump in the past.y94.com, newrepublic.com
Why it matters
Ellison is leveraging his position as Attorney General to challenge a massive federal spending decision and raise questions about potential conflicts of interest. The reported overpayment of over half a billion dollars for the facility, coupled with CoreCivic's history of donating to the Trump administration, puts the focus on the relationship between private prison operators and federal policy.
CoreCivic is a company that has profited immensely from Trump’s mass deportation policies and provides detention and facility management services to the United States Department of Homeland Security. This action places the scrutiny of the state's chief legal officer directly onto the federal government's contracts and financial decisions regarding private prison facilities.
What we don't know yet
- Will Congress launch the requested investigation into the purchase?
- Will the investigation find evidence of fraud or undue influence?
Is this still moving?
- Reports
- 3
- Developments
- 3
- Repetition
- 0%
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
Reporting
- y94.comFriday
- crooksandliars.comSaturday
- newrepublic.comFriday
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