Special Poll
A Republican-led House committee issued a subpoena to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president.
This is part of several new House GOP investigations targeting both Walz and his running mate, Vice President Harris.
Some Republicans are concerned these investigations could backfire and portray Walz and Harris as martyrs.
House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) is demanding Walz hand over documents related to a $250 million fraud scheme targeting taxpayer-funded child meal programs.
70 people connected to the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding our Future, including its founder, have been charged in relation to the scheme, and over a dozen have pleaded guilty or been convicted.
Foxx stated that her panel has not received adequate responses from Walz following numerous voluntary requests for documents.
Additional subpoenas were issued to Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Department of Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong.
A legislative audit found that the Minnesota Department of Education was unprepared to handle the fraud, failed to act on warning signs, and did not properly investigate the accusations.
In response, Walz noted that no state employees were implicated, but acknowledged the state did not perform adequate due diligence. He also mentioned new measures have been implemented, such as appointing a new MDE inspector general to investigate fraud allegations.
A spokesperson for Walz condemned the fraud, stating the Minnesota Department of Education worked diligently with the FBI to stop the fraud and charge those responsible.
The subpoena follows the House Oversight Committee’s recent investigation into Walz’s connections to China.
The Oversight panel, led by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), has also been investigating Harris’ role in managing migration issues along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is probing accusations that Walz inflated his military rank and service record.