Well, it looks like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has found himself in a bit of a political quagmire just weeks after being named the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nominee.
Walz is now the target of a Republican-led investigation into one of the largest COVID relief fraud schemes in the country. The House Education and the Workforce Committee has subpoenaed Walz, along with a few other key officials, in connection to the $250 million fraud scandal involving the nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF), which siphoned funds meant to feed children during the pandemic.
You’ve got to wonder if Kamala Harris is regretting her decision to pick Walz as her running mate. This isn’t exactly the kind of headline you want to see when you’re trying to convince voters that you’re ready to lead the country. The investigation is heating up, with Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) firing off a not-so-friendly reminder to Walz that, as the state’s top executive, he’s responsible for what goes down on his watch. Her letter bluntly suggests that Walz and his team knew more than they let on about the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) failure to prevent this massive fraud.
What makes this situation even messier is that Walz has already gone on the record, downplaying any wrongdoing by state employees. According to him, there was no “malfeasance” at MDE—just a lack of “due diligence.” Well, that’s reassuring, right? His defense boils down to “We didn’t do anything illegal, we just didn’t pay enough attention to stop people from stealing millions.” That’s not exactly going to calm the storm surrounding his campaign.
Governor Tim Walz oversaw the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country and then blocked attempts by the @HouseGOP‘s @EdWorkforceCmte to gather more information.
With today’s subpoena, we’re one step closer to getting the answers Minnesotans deserve.https://t.co/kE1S6CtRIp
— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) September 4, 2024
The timing here couldn’t be worse. Walz and the other officials who have been subpoenaed, including Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, have until September 18 to hand over the documents the committee is demanding. Meanwhile, as the GOP digs deeper into how this fraud was allowed to happen, the Democrats are stuck with a VP nominee facing questions about how much he knew and when he knew it.
For those unfamiliar, Feeding Our Future (FOF) is at the center of what the Department of Justice called the largest COVID relief fraud scheme in the nation. The fraudsters exploited federal child nutrition programs designed to provide meals to needy children during the pandemic and instead pocketed millions. It was such a blatant scheme that it’s hard to believe no one at MDE caught wind of it sooner.
🚨BREAKING🚨
U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce Issues Governor Tim Walz a subpoena regarding his potential decisions and involvement with the Covid-19 $250 million dollar nutritional child food program fraud case directly tied to the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center.… pic.twitter.com/82AMBUWGKo
— Andrea Shaffer, Employment/Labor Law (@Andreafreedom76) September 4, 2024
In a damning report released earlier this year, the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) found that MDE’s oversight of the nonprofit was “inadequate” and that its lack of action “created opportunities for fraud.” While Walz’s administration claims they’ve taken corrective measures, the damage is already done. Twenty-three people have been convicted so far, and with the DOJ still working through this case, it’s not over yet.
Walz might be sticking to his line that there was no illegal activity from state employees, but he’s got to realize this scandal is going to hang over his campaign like a dark cloud. This is about more than just fraud; it’s about leadership, accountability, and whether voters believe he can keep the wheels of government turning without them coming off the rails.
As this investigation continues to unfold, it’s clear that the GOP isn’t going to let up. They’re going to keep the pressure on, making sure this issue stays in the spotlight. For Harris and Walz, the road to 2024 just got a lot bumpier.
