The House Education and the Workforce Committee subpoenaed Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) on Wednesday for documents related to how the Minnesota government handled an alleged fraud scheme by a nonprofit group during the coronavirus pandemic.
The subpoena argues that information provided by the Minnesota Department of Education regarding its oversight of the federal child nutrition programs was "insufficient" in addressing the committee's concerns over how people from the nonprofit Feeding Our Future were able to defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture and misuse more than $250 million in funds.
"As the chief executive and the highest ranking official in the state of Minnesota, you are
responsible for the MDE and its administration of" the federal child nutrition program, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) wrote in a letter to Walz. "Statements in the press by you and your representatives indicate that you and other executive officers were involved, or had knowledge of, MDE’s administration of the FCNP and responsibilities and actions regarding the massive fraud."
"The Committee must now compel the production of responsive documents that will show the extent of the actions taken by you and your administration relating to MDE’s administration of the FCNP and the extent of your responsibilities and actions addressing the massive fraud that resulted in the abuse of taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children," Foxx continued.
In 2022, 70 people associated with Feeding Our Future were charged with defrauding the USDA and spending millions in funds intended for children on luxury cars, real estate, and other purchases. Since then, five people have been convicted of fraud, and dozens still await trial for charges including federal programs bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering.
Walz must provide documents relating to communications with state agencies including the Department of Education by Sept. 18. Subpoenas were also issued to the USDA and its Office of Inspector General, per the committee.
The letter marks the latest step House GOP-led committees have taken to investigate Walz since Vice President Kamala Harris selected the Minnesota governor as her running mate in the 2024 election, though the congressional investigation into misuse of funds dates back to 2022.
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The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation in mid-August into Walz's long-standing history with China, with GOP lawmakers arguing his extensive time in the communist nation may have influenced his foreign policy stances or whether he would be reluctant to confront Chinese aggression as vice president.
The Washington Examiner reached out to a Walz spokesperson for comment.
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