BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

House Education Committee subpoenas Walz over Minnesota nonprofit’s COVID-19 fraud

Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

The House Education and the Workforce Committee issued a subpoena Wednesday for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, in relation to a nonprofit in his state that has been charged with defrauding the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minnesota-based Feeding Our Future (FOF) has been accused of misusing $250 million in taxpayer funds that were meant to go to hungry children.  

The federal government has charged more than 70 people associated with the nonprofit, and five of them have been convicted of fraud. The group allegedly submitted the names of fake children receiving free meals during the pandemic.

Education Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) issued subpoenas for Walz, Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong.  

“Statements in the press by you and your representatives indicate that you and other executive officers were involved, or had knowledge of, MDE’s [Minnesota Department of Education’s] administration of the FCNP [Federal Child Nutrition Program] and responsibilities and actions regarding the massive fraud,” Foxx said in the letter to Walz.  

The governor was given until Sept. 18 to provide documents and the requested information to the committee.    

The subpoenas were first reported by NBC News.

The Hill has reached out to the governor’s office and the Harris-Walz campaign for comment.

It is not the first time House Republicans have opened investigations into Walz or Vice President Harris since their run for the presidency began.  

Republicans are also looking into Walz’s ties to China and Harris’s duties at the border and on migration policy.  

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) promptly accused the Education Committee of abusing its power for political purposes.

“Blatant use of official resources for a campaign. Pretty disgusting!” he said on the social platform X in reaction to the subpoena.

—Updated at 4:34 p.m.

Politics

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

66°F Sunny Feels like 66°
Wind
4 mph SSW
Humidity
33%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
52°F Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph S
Precip
16%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous