Additional Coverage:
- Walz subpoenaed by House for COVID fraud oversight failure (newsbreak.com)
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was called to testify before the House Education Committee this Wednesday as part of a Republican-led probe into issues surrounding the Democratic presidential candidates, focusing on Walz’s management of child nutrition programs, which have been a persistent challenge for him.
Walz, who is Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, has aimed to position Minnesota as an ideal place for families. He has been noted for establishing free school meals statewide. However, his administration is currently under scrutiny due to a fraud case.
The scandal involves a Minnesota nonprofit, Feeding Our Future, which is accused of misappropriating $250 million from a COVID-19 relief fund meant to nourish needy children.
The investigation by the committee, led by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., is specifically looking into how the Minnesota Department of Education, under Walz’s administration, handled a federal child nutrition program. Chairwoman Foxx emphasized Walz’s responsibility over the department in her letter to him.
Additionally, key figures such as Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong, Education Commissioner Willie Jett, and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have also received subpoenas.
NBC News was the first to report these developments.
The House GOP leadership has recently shifted focus from former President Joe Biden to other Democrats, including probing Walz’s connections to China from his time as a geography teacher and his oversight of immigration issues at the U.S. southern border. A subcommittee is also looking into discrepancies in Walz’s statements about his military service.
Addressing the large fraud case, Walz has been upfront, admitting shortcomings in his administration’s fraud prevention efforts at a press conference in August before his vice presidential nomination. He underscored his commitment to prosecuting fraud, noting the implementation of new oversight measures including the addition of an inspector general.
The Feeding Our Future case revealed the nonprofit exploited the pandemic-driven child nutrition program by submitting fictitious claims for funding, according to prosecutors. More than 70 people have been charged, with five convictions so far, while others await trial.
Walz, along with the other subpoenaed officials, must submit the requested documents by September 18.
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- Walz subpoenaed by House for COVID fraud oversight failure (newsbreak.com)