House Republicans are increasing pressure on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has been named as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the 2024 election, over his administration’s handling of taxpayer funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to reports from Fox News, the House Education and Workforce Committee has issued a subpoena to Walz in relation to a significant $250 million fraud case involving a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization called Feeding Our Future.
The Department of Justice has accused Feeding Our Future of taking advantage of a federally funded child nutrition program during the pandemic.
The organization was found to have falsified records in order to claim that non-existent children were being fed, supported by fraudulent invoices for food purchases.
In connection with this scheme, a total of 70 individuals have been charged, and five have already been convicted.
Virginia Foxx, the committee’s chair, didn’t mince words in her letter accompanying Walz’s subpoena:
“As the chief executive and the highest-ranking official in the state of Minnesota, you are responsible for the [Minnesota Department of Education] and its administration of [Federal Child Nutrition Programs].”
https://twitter.com/virginiafoxx/status/1831372097664512334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Foxx went on to allege that Walz and his team were either aware of or complicit in the Minnesota Department of Education’s supervision of this deceitful conduct.
In addition to Walz, subpoenas were issued to Willie Jett, Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education, and Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture under the Biden administration, in an effort to uncover the truth.
Unsurprisingly, a spokesperson for Walz had a polished response, stating, “This was an appalling abuse of a federal COVID-era program. The state department of education worked diligently to stop the fraud, and we’re grateful to the FBI for working with the department of education to arrest and charge the individuals involved.”
Foxx went on to allege that Walz and his team were either aware of or complicit in the Minnesota Department of Education’s supervision of this deceitful conduct.
In addition to Walz, subpoenas were issued to Willie Jett, Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education, and Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture under the Biden administration, in an effort to uncover the truth.
