House Committee Subpoenas Minnesota Gov. and Education Commissioner Over Alleged $250M Pandemic Fraud Scheme
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, led by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), has issued a subpoena to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and the state’s Education Commissioner in relation to an alleged $250 million pandemic fraud scheme. This scandal first came to light in 2022 when the Justice Department indicted 70 individuals involved with a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future for what Attorney General Merrick Garland termed “the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date.”
The defendants were accused of submitting fake names of children to claim reimbursement for school meals, with the funds being used for personal expenses such as luxury vehicles, real estate, and international travel. Five defendants were convicted in the first trial related to the scheme, and one individual pleaded guilty to attempting to bribe a juror.
The House Republicans are investigating the actions taken by the Minnesota Department of Education, pointing to a state auditor’s report that criticized the department for failing to address warning signs of fraud and being ill-prepared to handle the massive scheme. Rep. Foxx’s subpoena suggests that there may have been knowledge or involvement by executive officers in the administration of the Federal Child Nutrition Program.
Governor Walz has maintained that no state employees broke the law, attributing the lack of due diligence to their handling of the program. However, the House Committee’s probe continues as they seek further information from Walz and the Education Commissioner regarding their roles in addressing the fraud.
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