The House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday issued a subpoena to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, in connection with a nonprofit organization in his state that is accused of defrauding the government during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minnesota-based organization Feeding Our Future (FOF) is accused of misusing $250 million in taxpayer money that was supposed to benefit hungry children.
The federal government has filed charges against more than 70 people associated with the nonprofit organization, five of whom have been convicted of fraud. The group is said to have submitted the names of children who received free meals during the pandemic.
Education Department Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) issued subpoenas for Walz, Minnesota Education Secretary Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong.
“Press statements by you and your representatives indicate that you and other senior executives were involved in or aware of MDE’s activities. [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 September 18 to provide the committee with the documents and requested information.
The summons 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 Republicans in the House of Representatives have launched investigations since Walz and Vice President Harris began running for president.
Republicans are also investigating Walz’s ties to China and Harris’s responsibilities on the border and migration policy.
Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida immediately accused the Education Committee of abusing its power for political purposes.
“Blatant misuse of official resources for an election campaign. Pretty disgusting!” he said on the social platform X in response to the subpoena.
—Updated at 16:34
