Audit uncovers extensive financial mismanagement in Minnesota lieutenant governor's office

Deputy Legislative Auditor Lori Leysen released a 2025 audit that exposed severe fiscal neglect in the office of Minnesota lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan. The review, spanning mid-2022 to the end of 2024, documented twelve violations such as splitting purchases to bypass a $5,000 limit on state purchasing cards, overpaying separated employees, and failing to reclaim the excess funds. Earlier audit recommendations were largely ignored, with four of five prior findings still open.

Errors extended to travel reimbursements, double-paid state agency invoices, and missing vendor documentation for 40 of 41 sampled payments. When questioned, the office claimed recovering the funds was not in the public interest. Republican Senate leader Mark Johnson warned the audit reflects a wider fraud issue across Minnesota government.