On Wednesday, the Education and Workforce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives issued a press release announcing,
Chair Foxx Subpoenas Walz’s Minnesota Department of Education to Demand Accountability in “Largest COVID-19 Fraud Scheme in the Nation”
“Chair Foxx” refers to the Committee Chairwoman, Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina). The subpoena was sent to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and represents at least the third attempt by the Committee to obtain documents from the Walz administration relating to their oversight (or lack thereof) of Feeding Our Future and the Federal child nutrition programs under their purview.
The subpoena applies directly to Walz and demands that he produce the requested documents (specified in fourteen (14) separate categories) by noon on Wednesday, September 18.
Several of the document categories refer directly to the ever-shifting, contradictory, and implausible explanations that the Governor has offered in an effort to explain how at least $250 million was stolen on his watch.
At various times, Walz has blamed the scandal on (Category 2) the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), on (Cat. 4 and 5) state Judge John Guthmann, and on (Cat. 6) the FBI.
Separate subpoenas were sent by the Committee to Walz’ Education Commissioner, Willie Jett, to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and to the USDA’s Inspector General.
In this case, the U.S. Congress is doing the work the state legislature is refusing to do.
The issuance of the subpoenas was widely reported in state and national media. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported,
In a statement, Walz spokesperson Claire Lancaster said the state “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.”
Speaking of “the individuals involved,” eight of them appeared in Federal court in downtown Minneapolis this morning. Your correspondent was there.
The occasion was a pre-trial hearing for the fourteen (14) defendants who are part of the Safari Restaurant group, captioned USA v. Aimee Marie Bock, et. al. Eight of the defendants appeared in person and one appeared via telephone. One defendant is an international fugitive and another has already pled guilty. The remaining defendants from this group were excused for the day.
Compared to the previous hearing for this cohort, held last month, a seating chart was instituted to streamline the process. I can report that, this time, all defendants arrived on time and in court-appropriate attire.
The first trial for this group is scheduled to begin in February 2025.