House Republicans target Tim Walz in new probe
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at an American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) convention on Aug. 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is opening an investigation into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats' candidate for vice president.
Why it matters: The panel has spent the last year and a half trying to bring to light damaging information about President Biden. Now, it is setting its sights on the new Democratic ticket.
Driving the news: Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for information about Walz's connections to China.
- Walz spent a year teaching in China after graduating from college and later organized annual student trips to the country as a high school teacher in the U.S., saying he has visited around 30 times.
- Comer requested materials on "any Chinese entity or individual with whom Mr. Walz may have engaged or partnered," as well as any "warnings or guidance" the FBI has given Walz about "U.S. political figures being targeted by or recruited for CCP influence operations."
What he's saying: "Americans should be deeply concerned that Governor Walz, Kamala Harris's vice-presidential running mate, has a longstanding and cozy relationship with China," Comer said in a statement.
- He added: "The American people deserve to fully understand how deep Governor Walz's relationship with China goes."
The other side: "For the umpteenth time, Chairman Comer shows the American people that his only real priority in Congress is doing Donald Trump's bidding," said a spokesperson for Democrats on the Oversight Committee.
- "His latest investigation is nothing more than a political stunt to aid the former president, while he ignores Trump's cozy relationships with dictators, including China's Xi."
- Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann said in a statement, "Throughout his career, Governor Walz has stood up to the CCP, fought for human rights rights and democracy, and always put American jobs and manufacturing first."
Between the lines: The Walz probe adds to a series of investigations into the Biden administration and Biden personally that Democrats have blasted as nakedly political.
- The committee has spent much of its time investigating allegations of financial impropriety against Biden's family in an effort to build the case for impeachment proceedings that have failed to materialize.
- With Biden yielding to Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee, the committee has launched an investigation into Harris' role as the administration's point person on the sources of illegal immigration.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann's last name.
