U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and their colleagues sought additional information from the Minnesota Department of Education this week about the department’s role in the “largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation.”
The first trial began last month for seven defendants linked to the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF) for their role in defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Federal Child Nutrition Program (FCNP) of more than $250 million in taxpayer funds, the lawmakers wrote in a June 12 letter to Commissioner of Education Willie Jett with the Minnesota Department of Education. The U.S. Attorney has so far charged 70 individuals with federal crimes for the illegal scheme to divert funds away from feeding children.
“We write today to request additional information as we continue our oversight of the USDA’s and the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) administration of the FCNP and oversight of FOF. Your January 5, 2024, document production to Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor has led to additional inquiries regarding the USDA’s and the MDE’s involvement in the ‘largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation,’” the letter said.
U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, also signed the letter, along with four other Republican lawmakers.
The lawmakers requested additional information, such as emails, texts, and other communications between the Minnesota Department of Education and organizations the committee believes may have information that will assist the ongoing investigation. These include communications between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of the Governor of Minnesota. The congressmen also requested documentation related to sponsoring organizations and food distribution sites, according to their letter.