Walz, Ellison to appear before House Oversight Committee

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

Amid allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota, the U.S. House Oversight Committee said Friday that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison will appear before the committee in March.

The committee will host a second hearing on the “fraud and misuse of federal funds” in the state on Wednesday, March 4, with Walz and Ellison confirming their appearance.

Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has been leading the committee’s investigation, which was launched in December last year, with the committee hosting its first hearing on the issue in early January, when they heard from state lawmakers who sounded the alarm on fraud.

The committee argues that taxpayers have been defrauded of approximately $9 billion that were meant to provide services to children and disabled Americans.

Comer is requesting Minnesota Democrats’ various records, including documents and communications related to the allegations. In addition, the chairman is tasking the U.S. Department of the Treasury to hand over any “relevant” Suspicious Activity Reports regarding the investigation, as well as any transcribed interviews of “several current” and former state officials.

Comer lamented the allegations of fraud, vowing to hold accountable those responsible for the taxpayers.

“Americans deserve answers about the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota’s social services programs that occurred on Governor Walz’s and Attorney General Ellison’s watch. The House Oversight Committee recently heard sworn testimony from Minnesota state lawmakers who stated that Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison failed to act to stop this widespread fraud and retaliated against whistleblowers who raised concerns,” Comer said in a press release. “We look forward to questioning Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison under oath about this scandal to ensure transparency and accountability for the American people, and to advance solutions to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and impose stronger penalties on those who defraud taxpayers.”