AUGUSTA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles said Wednesday that if elected, he will work with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Trump administration to investigate claims of fraud in the MaineCare system.

Charles, a former federal investigator who now runs a Washington D.C. lobbying firm, said in a statement that he hopes his investigations lead to “indictments, convictions and sentences.” 

For months, Republicans — including Vice President JD Vance — have raised concerns about potential fraud in MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid system.

Late last year, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services referred one Portland-area social service provider to the attorney general’s office for investigation after finding “a credible allegation of fraud.” 

A federal audit also called into question about $46 million in MaineCare spending, although it stopped short of alleging fraud.

In his 10-point “Restoring Justice in Maine” plan, Charles said he wants to do “a complete forensic audit” of MaineCare. 

Democrats, including outgoing Gov. Janet Mills, say Maine and other Democratic states are being targeted for investigation by the Trump administration to distract from the war in Iran and spiraling prices.

Other parts of Charles’ plan include a call for a special prosecutor to “investigate fraud, corruption and misconduct in state government” and reforming the Maine Office of the Attorney General to establish “an assistant attorney general for public corruption.” 

Charles faces six other Republicans running for the GOP nomination on Tuesday: Jonathan Bush, Ben Midgley, Garrett Mason, David Jones, Owen McCarthy and Robert Wessels.