Foxx subpoenas Walz administration in covid fraud scheme

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, NC-5, subpoenaed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s administration in an alleged Covid-19 fraud scheme. Gov. Walz is Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate on the Democratic ticket for the upcoming presidential election this November. Subpoenas were also issued to the Biden Administration’s USDA and Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

“The OIG’s production of information has been neither timely nor fully responsive,” states the subpoena. “The documents and information provided to the Committee do not explain your actions or their impact on what has been described as ‘the largest pandemic fraud in the nation.’”

A US attorney charged 70 individuals, five of whom have been convicted (to date) with fraud. The charges and individuals are associated with the Minnesota-based Feeding Our Future, which allegedly defrauded taxpayers of $250 million in funds.

“Charges include federal programs bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering,” according to a press release. “While dozens are still awaiting trial, questions remain regarding the role of the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) administration of the Federal Child Nutrition Programs and its oversight of FOF.”

The House Committee on Workforce and Education, of which Congresswoman Foxx is the chair, is involved in the administration of federal child nutrition programs (FCNP) and FOF by the USDA and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). 

“As the chief executive and the highest-ranking official in the state of Minnesota, you are responsible for the MDE and its administration of FCNPs,” Foxx wrote to Walz. 

Dozens of individuals are still awaiting trial; however, there are still unanswered questions regarding the role of the Minnesota Department of Education’s FCNP administration and its FOF oversight. 

The FOF is a non-profit approved by the MDE to sponsor federal meal programs. Its leader was charged with allegedly conspiring to fraudulently claim $250 million in federal meal funds that were allegedly spent on luxury vehicles, real estate, and other unlawful purchases.

The Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) are state agencies funded by the USDA, administered by FCNP, and intended to reimburse eligible children for meals. States contract with entities that provide meals and reimburse for those meals. The USDA provides funds for reimbursement, but state agencies generally lead duties such as reimbursing funds and overseeing meals. MDE is the designated state agency responsible for administering CACFP and SFSP in Minnesota.

“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,” continued Foxx in her letter to Walz. 

Walz failed to respond to previous attempts by the Committee to garner information necessary to uncover how the Governor and the USDA allowed such fraud to occur; the Committee has proceeded with a subpoena to compel responses.

On June 24, the committee identified and emailed a list of priority documents and information that had already been requested on June 12, 2024. The committee received two additional document productions on June 25 and August 9.

“Despite these productions, the documents and information provided to the Committee do not explain how your agency and the USDA failed to identify what has been described as the largest pandemic fraud in the nation,” Foxx wrote to Willie Jett, Minnesota Commissioner of Education. “The MDE’s production of information has been neither timely nor fully responsive. Accordingly, the Committee is invoking compulsory process.”

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