According to NBC News, the House Education and Workforce Committee has issued subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other officials in connection with a major pandemic fraud scheme.

The Republican-led committee is seeking information on how state and federal agencies responded to alleged misuse of millions of dollars by the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which was intended to provide meals for children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The subpoenas, issued on Wednesday, demand that Governor Walz, Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong produce documents related to their oversight of Feeding Our Future. This development comes as Walz, recently selected as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, faces increased scrutiny of his record.

Scope And Purpose Of The Investigation

The House committee's investigation into this matter dates back to 2022, predating Walz's nomination as a vice presidential candidate. Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican chair of the committee, stated in a letter to Walz that the requested information is intended to reveal "the extent of your responsibilities and actions addressing the massive fraud that resulted in the abuse of taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children."

The investigation focuses on what federal prosecutors have described as one of the largest pandemic fraud schemes in the country. Feeding Our Future is accused of creating fake children's names to seek reimbursements for meals that were never actually served, allegedly misusing millions of dollars in the process.

A state audit report released in June 2024 criticized the Minnesota Education Department's oversight of Feeding Our Future, describing it as "inadequate." The report suggested that the department's actions and inactions created opportunities for fraud to occur.

Response From State Officials

In response to the subpoenas, a spokeswoman for Governor Walz referred to the alleged fraud as "an appalling abuse of a federal COVID-era program." She added that the state department of education had worked diligently to stop the fraud and expressed gratitude to the FBI for their involvement in arresting and charging the individuals involved.

Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, in a written response to the June audit report, placed the blame squarely on the individuals involved in the scheme.

Jett stated:

What happened with Feeding Our Future was a travesty — a coordinated, brazen abuse of nutrition programs that exist to ensure access to healthy meals for low-income children. The responsibility for this flagrant fraud lies with the indicted and convicted fraudsters.

Governor Walz has previously maintained that there was no "malfeasance" at the state level, asserting that no state employees were implicated in illegal activities. He acknowledged, however, that there may have been a lack of due diligence in some aspects of oversight.

Federal Prosecution And Ongoing Investigations

The U.S. Justice Department has taken significant action in response to the alleged fraud. To date, 70 individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme. Of these, 18 have entered guilty pleas, and five were convicted in June 2024.

According to prosecutors, Feeding Our Future allegedly opened more than 250 sites throughout Minnesota. The organization is accused of submitting fraudulent attendance rosters containing the names of fake children who were claimed to be receiving meals.

The timeline of events indicates that the Minnesota Education Department reported Feeding Our Future to the FBI in April 2021 on suspicions of fraud.

The FBI initiated an investigation the following month. Prior to this, in the fall of 2020, the state education department had notified the USDA inspector general's office about concerns over the rapid growth of Feeding Our Future, but no action was taken at that time.

Political Implications And Committee Actions

The timing of these subpoenas has drawn attention, given Walz's recent selection as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. However, the Republican-led committee's interest in this case predates Walz's nomination, with initial document requests made to the U.S. Agriculture Department in September 2022.

Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the committee, has criticized the timing of the subpoena to Governor Walz, noting that it marks the first public outreach to the governor by Republicans in this investigation. Scott provided a timeline highlighting this point.

The subpoenas require Walz and the other officials to provide the requested documents by September 18, 2024. It's important to note that while documents are being demanded, none of the subpoenaed individuals are required to testify at this time.

Conclusion

This investigation into the Feeding Our Future scandal presents a complex challenge for both state and federal officials. The alleged fraud scheme has raised questions about the oversight of pandemic aid programs and the effectiveness of existing safeguards. As the investigation unfolds, it may have significant implications for how future aid programs are structured and monitored. Governor Walz's and other officials' response to these subpoenas could potentially impact public perception of their leadership and their ability to prevent such large-scale fraud in the future.