House Oversight Chairman James Comer ordered Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to testify publicly next month as congressional investigators intensify scrutiny of alleged large-scale fraud in state-run social services programs.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., formally ordered Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to appear before Congress as part of an escalating investigation into alleged fraud across the state’s social services and Medicaid-related programs, following Walz’s announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2026.
In a committee statement, Comer said Walz has been directed to testify at a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 10, 2026. Comer also called on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to appear, as lawmakers examine what they describe as systemic failures and misuse of taxpayer funds in programs administered under Walz’s leadership.
“Though Tim Walz is not running for governor again, he cannot run from accountability,” Comer said. “The American people deserve answers, and they deserve them now.”
Walz announced Monday that he would not pursue a third term, citing the difficulty of mounting a statewide campaign while governing amid mounting controversy over fraud allegations and oversight concerns. Walz has served as governor since 2019, previously represented Minnesota in Congress, and was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024.
The House investigation follows a series of federal prosecutions stemming from the “Feeding Our Future” case, in which defendants were accused of exploiting a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors alleged that tens of millions of dollars intended to feed children were diverted through false claims and fictitious meal distribution sites. The case has resulted in numerous charges, guilty pleas, and convictions and has become a focal point in Minnesota’s broader debate over fraud prevention.
Federal officials have since indicated that the scope of potential fraud may extend well beyond that case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has said investigators are reviewing 14 Medicaid services that the state identified as high risk for fraud, programs that have accounted for billions of dollars in billings since 2018. Thompson suggested that suspected fraud could ultimately reach $9 billion or more as audits and prosecutions continue.
Comer’s committee said it is seeking documents, internal communications, and records from both Walz and Ellison related to the programs under investigation. The chairman also requested that the Treasury Department provide Suspicious Activity Reports, or SARs, to assist in tracing potential money laundering and other financial crimes tied to the alleged schemes.
In addition, the committee has asked for transcribed interviews with Minnesota officials to determine how the alleged misconduct persisted and whether warning signs were ignored. Comer previously announced a separate hearing scheduled for Jan. 7 that will feature testimony from Minnesota Republican state lawmakers who have been conducting their own inquiries into public assistance fraud.
Neither Walz’s office nor Ellison’s office immediately responded Monday to the committee’s demand for testimony.
The congressional probe sets the stage for a high-profile confrontation between House Republicans and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership as federal prosecutions continue and the political landscape begins to shift ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
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