Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been subpoenaed by the US House of Representatives in connection with a fraud investigation involving a misappropriation of pandemic relief funds. The subpoena centers on Minnesota’s response to a non-profit organization that misappropriated funds intended for feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House Education and Workforce Committee has requested extensive documentation from Walz, Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong. The documents sought are about the oversight of the non-profit ‘Feeding Our Future’, which is accused of diverting millions meant for child nutrition. The subpoenas, demand clarity on Minnesota’s handling of the situation, NBC News reported.
The congressional investigation into this matter has been ongoing for several months, with the Justice Department having charged 48 people initially, which has now expanded to 70.
Notably, a recent audit by the state of Minnesota found significant lapses in oversight by the Education Department, describing its efforts to keep a check as “inadequate,” and noting that these failings created opportunities for fraud.
Earlier this year, five individuals involved in the fraud were convicted. This trial was notable for an attempt to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash, which was discovered at her residence. Overall, 70 individuals have been charged in connection with the case.
In response to the subpoena, a spokesperson for Governor Walz called the fraud as a severe misuse of relief funds. The spokesperson added that the state is committed to addressing the issue and also appreciated FBI’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Representative Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina and chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, has been pressing for detailed information on the case.
“You are well aware of the multimillion-dollar fraud that has occurred under your tenure as governor,” Foxx wrote to Walz, in a letter informing about the subpoena.
