Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was recently served a subpoena amid an ongoing investigation into the state’s handling of federal child nutrition programs and allegations of massive fraud surrounding the Feeding Our Future (FOF) non-profit organization. Walz and members of his administration reportedly played a significant role in the program amid the alleged fraud.
According to reports, the investigation seeks to determine how the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) managed federal funds designated for child nutrition initiatives during the pandemic. During this time, Feeding Our Future was committing fraud on a massive scale, misappropriating tens of millions of dollars intended to feed hungry children.
The subpoena was issued by the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, led by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC). The committee demanded that Walz hand over relevant documents and communications between him and his administration relating to their involvement in the controversial program.
The subpoena from the Committee on Education and the Workforce began, “The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce (Committee) is engaged in ongoing oversight of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) administration of federal child nutrition programs (FCNP) and Feeding Our Future (FOF).”
The letter from Foxx continued, “As the chief executive and the highest-ranking official in Minnesota, you are responsible for the MDE and its administration of FCNPs. Article V Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota which lays out the powers and duties of the governor, states in part that the governor “may require the opinion in writing of the principal officer in each of the executive departments upon any subject relating to his duties,” and “he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
The subpoena suggested that Walz and his administration were insufficient in addressing the rampant fraud that was occurring with FOF. “On November 14, 2023, and June 14, 2024, letters were sent to MDE requesting information regarding its handling of the FCNP and the FOF fraud. The documents we have received to date indicate the actions taken by you and other executive officers were insufficient to address the massive fraud,” the letter stated.
The letter to Walz cited reports indicating that Walz and other high-ranking members of the Minnesota government had some degree of knowledge to the “responsibilities and actions” regarding the large-scale fraud that was occurring under their watch.
“Statements in the press by you and your representatives indicate that you and other executive officers were involved, or had knowledge of, MDE’s administration of the FCNP and responsibilities and actions regarding the massive fraud. When you were asked about your decision of not holding agencies accountable and if MDE employees would be disciplined, you replied, “This wasn’t malfeasance.” You also stated, “There’s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn’t do as much due diligence as they should’ve.” According to press reports, however, one of your spokespersons said your administration “has already made many of the corrective actions suggested by the OLA [Office of the Legislative Auditor] and taken ‘strong steps to find and eliminate any remaining vulnerabilities in government programs,” the subpoena continued.
Watch Tim Walz’s former platoon criticize his military record below:
Featured image credit: Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Governor_Tim_Walz_at_Bemidji_Steel.jpg
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