Governor Newsom Accuses Dr. Oz, a Turkish-American, of Targeting Armenians in Fraud Probe

Medicare and Medicaid czar Dr. Mehmed Oz’s investigation into possible health care fraud in California has come under scrutiny as Governor Gavin Newsom weighs probing the former television personality for allegedly targeting Armenians in his inquiry.“Our office is reviewing reports that Dr. Mehmet Oz targeted the Armenian American community in Southern California recently — making racially charged claims of fraud outside Armenian-owned businesses, including a popular bakery,” Mr. Newsom’s office stated on X Wednesday. The office noted it would be “taking these allegations seriously” given “the historic sensitivities involved,” adding that “any and all acts of hate have no place in California.”Mr. Newsom’s office is likely referring to the longstanding hostility between Turks and Armenians, which can be traced back to the Ottoman genocide of Armenians at the start of the 20th century. Dr. Oz, born in Ohio to Turkish immigrant parents, is a dual Turkish-American citizen.Dr. Oz traveled to the west coast to investigate hospice and health care fraud, activities for which he claims Los Angeles County has become the “epicenter.” He offered an update on the investigation Tuesday, posting videos on X showing himself driving through Los Angeles’s Van Nuys neighborhood and pointing to businesses and medical buildings he claimed are connected to a widespread fraud scheme.In one video Dr. Oz estimated the extent of the fraud at “roughly $3.5 billion” and claimed “it is run, quite a bit of it, by the Russian-Armenian mafia.” He then pointed to a business sign behind him, stating that “the lettering and language” is “of that dialect.” The sign was written in Armenian and read “fresh lavash” — a type of Armenian bread.The video drew criticism from members of the Armenian community. The head of the Armenian National Committee of America, Alex Galitsky, accused Dr. Oz of “targeting the Armenian community with the same vile dehumanising rhetoric we saw fuel the collective punishment of Minnesota’s Somalian community,” a reference to the Somali fraud scandal that has rocked Minnesota.Mr. Newsom’s probe threat comes as he has already directed jabs at Dr. Oz over the investigation. On Tuesday he berated the Turkish-American surgeon for trying to “cosplay as a fraud fighter” and claimed California, under his watch, had already cleaned up hospice fraud.Dr. Oz responded by suggesting Mr. Newsom join him in the effort to “get California back on track,” urging him to “check your email.”

Governor Newsom Accuses Dr. Oz, a Turkish-American, of Targeting Armenians in Fraud Probe

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