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BANGOR, Maine – Vice President JD Vance singled out The Maine Wire’s Jon Fetherston and Steve Robinson for recognition during his visit to Bangor on Thursday, praising their reporting on fraud before a large crowd gathered at Bangor International Airport.
“We’ve also got some reporters from the Maine Wire, people who have been fighting fraud,” Vance said. “So let’s give a round of applause to Jon Fetherston and Steve Robinson.”
The acknowledgment came as Vance delivered remarks focused on the administration’s broader effort to combat fraud in federal programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, and other taxpayer-funded services.
Speaking to law enforcement officials and attendees, the vice president emphasized the role of investigators and prosecutors in addressing what he described as widespread abuse.
“Thank you for your service and for all that you and your law enforcement folks are doing for our great country,” Vance said.
Vance framed fraud as both a financial and moral issue, arguing that it harms not only taxpayers but also vulnerable individuals who rely on government programs for care.
He described fraud as creating “two fundamental victims” — taxpayers whose money is misused and those who may be denied legitimate services when resources are diverted.
The Bangor stop is part of a broader push by the administration to spotlight fraud enforcement nationwide. Federal officials have recently taken steps to tighten oversight, including a pause on new Medicare billing enrollments for certain home healthcare and hospice providers while agencies review billing practices.
Maine has drawn increased attention in recent federal discussions surrounding oversight of Medicaid-funded services, including MaineCare.
The recognition of The Maine Wire reporters underscored the role of media coverage in bringing attention to alleged fraud, as federal officials continue to signal that additional enforcement actions and policy changes will be forthcoming.
Yay! Let’s make Maine a state we can be proud of again