GOP Terrifies Walz
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer says Minnesota’s top elected officials may soon be formally subpoenaed by Congress as part of an expanding investigation into alleged fraud and the misuse of federal taxpayer funds.
Appearing Tuesday on Newsmax, Comer revealed that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have not responded to repeated requests to testify voluntarily before Congress.
According to Comer, the lack of cooperation leaves the House Oversight Committee with little choice.
“If we don’t hear from them after the first hearing, they should fully expect subpoenas,” Comer said.
Comer chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is launching a series of hearings examining oversight failures connected to large-scale fraud cases involving federal nutrition programs and COVID-era relief funding in Minnesota.
The first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Subpoenas and Contempt on the Table
Comer said Walz and Ellison are expected to testify on February 10. If either official refuses to comply with a lawful subpoena, Comer warned that contempt of Congress proceedings would follow.
“This is not optional,” Comer said. “They know the rules. They’ve served in Congress themselves.”
Comer emphasized that both officials were in positions of authority during the period when the alleged fraud occurred, making their testimony critical to the investigation.
“These decisions happened on their watch,” he said.
Whistleblowers Raised Red Flags for Years
The investigation has been fueled by whistleblower testimony and complaints from state lawmakers who say warnings were repeatedly ignored.
According to Comer, several whistleblowers—including long-time state employees—have told investigators they raised concerns years ago, not recently.
“They didn’t warn them once,” Comer said. “They warned them over and over again.”
The Oversight chairman said the allegations point to serious failures in accountability that allowed taxpayer money to be misused.
Investigation Will Continue Despite Walz Announcement
Comer also dismissed claims that the probe might fade after Walz—who was the 2024 running mate of former Vice President Kamala Harris—recently announced he would not seek reelection.
“Announcing retirement doesn’t end congressional oversight,” Comer said. “This investigation will move forward.”
Comer concluded by stressing that Americans expect transparency when federal funds are involved.
“These are taxpayer dollars,” he said. “The public wants answers, and Congress is going to get them.”
