House GOP subpoenas Walz in scramble to probe Dem ticket
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at Laborfest in Milwaukee, Wisc. on Sept. 2, 2024. Photo: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
A Republican-led House committee on Wednesday issued a subpoena of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president.
Why it matters: The maneuver is part of a flurry of new House GOP probes targeting both Walz and his running mate, Vice President Harris.
- Some Republicans worry the investigations will backfire politically and make Walz and Harris look like martyrs, Axios previously reported.
State of play: House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) is trying to compel Walz to turn over documents related to his handling of what federal prosecutors have called a "brazen" $250 million fraud scheme targeting taxpayer-funded child meal programs.
- 70 people involved with the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding our Future, including its founder, have been charged in the matter, and more than a dozen have pleaded guilty or been convicted so far.
- In explaining her decision to issue a subpoena, Foxx wrote that her panel has "been unable to obtain substantive responsive materials in the many voluntary requests" to Walz for materials.
- Foxx also subpoenaed Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Department of Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong.
Zoom in: A legislative audit found that the Minnesota Department of Education was "ill-prepared" to address the alleged fraud, "failed to act on warning signs" and did not properly investigate the accusations, Axios' Torey Van Oot reported.
- In response to the report, Walz pointed out that no state employees have been implicated in the scheme but acknowledged the state government "simply didn't do as much due diligence as they should have."
- Walz also argued that changes have been made in response to the scandal, including a new MDE inspector general to probe fraud allegations.
The other side: "This was an appalling abuse of a federal COVID-era program," a spokesperson for Walz told Axios.
- "The state department of education worked diligently to stop the fraud and we're grateful to the FBI for working with the department of education to arrest and charge the individuals involved."
- Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the top Democrat on Foxx's committee, insinuated in a brief statement that the probe is political: "The timing of the Republican's [sic] subpoena to Governor Walz is weird."
Zoom out: Foxx's subpoena comes after the House Oversight Committee opened an investigation into Walz's connections to China last month.
- The Oversight panel, led by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), has also investigated Harris' role as the Biden administration point person on the sources of migration along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) has been probing Walz's military record over accusations that he inflated his rank and service record.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Rep. Bobby Scott. Axios' Torey Van Oot contributed reporting for this story.
