US House subpoenas Tim Walz over Minnesota nonprofit alleged to have committed ‘massive fraud’ with Covid funds

Committee chair Virginia Foxx wrote in a letter to Walz that the committee is requesting information to show "the extent of your responsibilities and actions addressing the massive fraud that resulted in the abuse of taxpayer dollars intended for hungry children," NBC News reported.

The subpoenas, which were first obtained by the outlet, have demanded that Walz, Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett turn over documents related to the oversight of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit accused of misusing millions of dollars that were intended to be used during the pandemic to feed children.

A spokeswoman for Walz called the alleged fraud "an appalling abuse of a federal COVID-era program." She added, "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."

While none of those subpoenaed are required to testify, they have until September 18 to provide the requested documents. The Department of Justice has charged 70 people in connection to the scheme, with 18 pleading guilty. In June, five were convicted. Those convicted were charged with wire fraud, federal programs bribery and money laundering. The individuals had been charged with stealing over $40 million from Feeding Our Future, funded by federal food-aid programs. Instead of using the funds to feed children, they used it to buy cryptocurrency, luxury goods, and properties.

A June audit report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor stated that the Minnesota Education Department had failed to properly oversee the nonprofit. The report stated that the department’s "actions and inactions created opportunities for fraud" and the oversight conducted by the department was "inadequate."

The report stated that the Minnesota Education Department received at least 30 complaints about the nonprofit between June 2018 and December 2021. Some of the complaints against the group were not investigated, and when they did investigate, "the investigations were inadequate." Feeding Our Future was a sponsor of two federal nutrition programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and under these programs, sponsors oversee sites where meals and snacks are served. The Minnesota Education Department is responsible for administering these programs.

In response to the audit report, Jett wrote, “What happened with Feeding Our Future was a travesty — a coordinated, brazen abuse of nutrition programs that exist to ensure access to healthy meals for low-income children. The responsibility for this flagrant fraud lies with the indicted and convicted fraudsters.”

Seven defendants charged in the Feeding Our Future case were rearrested in June after it was revealed that a juror was bribed to find the defendants not guilty. The juror was removed from the case, and did not abide by the demands, instead informing law enforcement.